IPL 2021 Match Prediction: Kolkata Knight Riders versus Punjab Kings. 45th Match. Who Will Win?

Losses for both the Punjab Kings and the Rajasthan Royals has made for a very exciting 2021 IPL table. While the Sunrisers Hyderabad are out of the running for a playoff place, these two teams are hanging on by the skin of their teeth. They both happen to be playing each other next - the Punjab Kings must win, while the Kolkata Knight Riders can afford one more loss. This is a significant game for both teams and it should be a cracking contest. This is who we think will go on to win.

Kolkata Knight Riders Team Preview

When the first part of the 2021 IPL came to an end, the Kolkata Knight Riders looked all but out. However, the extended break seems to have helped them a lot, and in the second half of the 2021 IPL in the United Arab Emirates, they have won three matches out of the four that they have played and are now one of the main candidates for a playoff spot. With this being said though, they need two wins from their final three games.

At the current moment in time, the Kolkata Knight Riders are in fourth place with a very good NRR of +0.363. Their solitary defeat came against the Chennai Super Kings, who have been on the top of their game during the resumption. The Kolkata Knight Riders play quite similarly to how England play, which is not much of a surprise considering Eoin Morgan is their captain. However, while there can be no questions asked about his captaincy skills, he has been out of form for a while now, getting out cheaply and scoring slowly.

Since they can no longer call on Andre Russell, Morgan now has more responsibility to add impetus to the back end of their innings. Lokie Ferguson will also be missing, which will be a big miss since he has been playing well. Adding Venkatesh Iyer to the top order was a brilliant move by the management, and when everyone bats freely they are a difficult team to keep under wraps.

They have been bowling really well as of late, especially on the pitches that have had a little something in them for the bowlers. Opposing batsmen have found it tricky to put Varun Chakravarthy away, while Sunil Narine has caused plenty of issues too. However, with both Russel and Ferguson MIA, the death bowling could be a slight issue now, especially since Prasidh Krishna and Tin Southee are not death bowling specialists.

Overall, the Kolkata Knight Riders have plenty going for them and they will be looking to sort out the small blemishes that they do have. Their batting unit is in form, and they have a pretty versatile bowling attack - if they can bowl well at the death, they will be a team to look out for.

Punjab Kings Team Preview

When you look at how they have performed over the last few seasons, it is safe to say that there is no other team that has disappointed as often as the Punjab Kings have. They have often been in a solid position, but have then buckled during key moments. They look almost certain to qualify for the knockout stage at the start of the resumption, but some shock results have derailed them a bit. They are still in with a chance, but will have to play really good cricket from here on in.

As it stands, the Punjab Kings are sitting in sixth place in the table with eight points and a NRR of -00.288. So, not only do they need to get some points, but they also need to improve their NRR as this could be the difference between qualifying for the playoffs or getting knocked out.

In their last few matches, their batting unit has failed, but their bowlers have been at the top of their game. They have been pretty inconsistent with their playing XI and their batting order, and this has had a negative impact on their performances. For example, in the last match, it was a surprise to not see Aiden Markram or Chris Gayle open the innings alongside KL Rahul.

We do not think that they will make any changes to their XI unless Mayank Agarwal is available again or if there is an injury that we do not know about. Having said that, Nicholas Pooran has been bang average to poor during this IPL edition, so there is a chance that he is replaced.

When it comes to the bowling, the Punjab Kings have been really good. Despite the batsmen failing to put up a decent score in the last match, the likes of Mohammad Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, and Nathan Ellis did a great job. They can take many positives from their recent matches and if their best players can find some form, there is no reason why they cannot cause the Kolkata Knight Riders some issues.

Coin Toss

Whichever captain calls the toss correctly will likely opt to bowl first since the team that bats last at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium usually have a slight advantage. In the last match, the Royal Challengers Bangalore won the toss and decided to bowl first, and they went on to win the match by 7 wickets with nearly three overs left to spare.

Pitch Conditions

Fast bowlers, over the years, have managed to have some success in Dubai. For example, during last year's 2020 IPL, fast bowlers picked up 180 wickets, while spin bowlers collected 94. You do not want to be slogging on this wicket, and those who play proper cricket shots can cash in. The team that bats first will probably need to score around 170 if they are to have a chance of winning.

Our Match Prediction

Both of these sides have plenty of firepower, but they have had contrasting performances as of late. While the KKR have managed to execute their plans to near perfection, the same cannot be said of the PBKS. When we take into consideration how both teams have fared so far in the UAE, we would put our money on the Kolkata Knight Riders to come out on top in this game.

Our match prediction: