KKR vs PBKS, Match 2 of IPL 2023: Kolkata Knight Riders Player Availability & Probable Playing XI

Kolkata Knight Riders’ season opener will be against Punjab Kings at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali, Punjab. Knight Riders had an off season last time around as they failed to make it to the playoffs. The biggest challenge for them ahead of this season will be the unavailability of skipper Shreyas Iyer. Will KKR be able to make it to the playoffs without their skipper? Well, this is a big question.

KKR vs PBKS Team News: No Shreyas Iyer, Pat Cummins in IPL 2023

KKR’s biggest blow ahead of the season is the unavailability of skipper Shreyas Iyer. Iyer is still recovering from a back injury that is likely to sideline him for at least the first half of IPL 2023. The team management have ponder their faith on Delhi’s left-hand batter Nitish Rana to lead the side in Shreyas’ absence.

One more big name missing in the KKR camp this season is the Australian skipper Pat Cummins. Owing to his workload, Pat Cummins has decided to opt out of this season. KKR hasn’t named a replacement yet for Cummins, but they do have the likes of Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson who will be in the thick of things for KKR throughout the season.

Predicted PBKS playing 11

1. Venkatesh Iyer
2. N Jagadeesan (wk)
3. Nitish Rana
4. Shakib Al Hasan
5. Andre Russell
6. Rinku Singh
7. Shardul Thakur
8. Sunil Narine
9. Lockie Ferguson
10. Umesh Yadav
11. Varun Chakravarthy

Venkatesh Iyer and Narayan Jagadeesan will be opening the innings.
Nitish Rana will be batting at no 3 followed by Shakib Al Hasan, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell.
The lower order will comprise Sunil Narine and Shardul Thakur who will be effective with both bat and ball.
In the bowling unit, the onus would be on Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Umesh Yadav, and one between Lockie Ferguson or Tim Southee.

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