IPL 2017, KKR v RPS, preview: Can Ben ‘Stroke’ RPS to another victory?

Indian Premier League 2017, RPS v KKR: Kolkata Knight Riders have chased and won in each of their three matches against Rising Pune

By: Ankit Banerjee |
May 3, 2017 1:22 pm

An emphatic match-winning 103 unbeaten off 63 balls and Rising Pune Supergiant win and Rs 14.5 cr is justified, hail Ben Stokes. His innings in the last game and RPS are already looking a different side. But Kolkata Knight Riders in their own backyard are a force to reckon with as they take on the western counter-parts RPS. Another player KKR have to be watchful about is Imran Tahir, once he gets going he is unstoppable. Also with news pouring in, it seems Chris Lynn could be playing the match, he was in the sidelines due to an injury but he has been there during practice and was looking allright.

Knight Riders have chased and won in each of their three matches against Rising Pune.

Last time they met this season, Robin Uthappa’s 47-ball 87 paved the way for Knight Riders to hunt down a target of 183 at the MCA Stadium with 11 balls remaining. So, certainly Steven Smith would be having a chalked out plan for Robin Uthappa.’The pressure will be more on Rising Pune Supergiant as they will be eyeing a win that would boost their chances of making the cut, for KKR they are almost their and it is time they tighten the screws before the playoffs arrive.

IT’S MATCH DAY!⚡#Supergiants make your way to the Eden Gardens as we play @kkriders away at 8 pm tonight!#RangWahiJungNayi #IPL #KKRvRPS pic.twitter.com/GM76fjcHuA

— RisingPuneSupergiant (@RPSupergiants) May 3, 2017

.@GautamGambhir feels the timing is perfect for our Knights to bring on their ‘A’ game https://t.co/lSX3Z27TQV #AmiKKR #DusKiDahaad #KKRvRPS

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 3, 2017

#KnightRiders, presenting some great on-field analysis combined with best off-field action, in the ep of #KnightClub https://t.co/Es9GLC3Uxd pic.twitter.com/S4yc5gRYm0

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 3, 2017

Likely squads:

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Sunil Narine, 2 Gautam Gambhir (capt), 3 Robin Uthappa (wk), 4 Manish Pandey, 5 Yusuf Pathan, 6 Sheldon Jackson, 7 Colin de Grandhomme/Shakib Al Hasan, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Nathan Coulter-Nile, 10 Umesh Yadav, 11 Kuldeep Yadav.

Rising Pune Supergiant: 1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Rahul Tripathi, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 MS Dhoni (wk), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Manoj Tiwary, 7 Daniel Christian, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Jaydev Unadkat, 10 Shardul Thakur, 11 Imran Tahir.