Kolkata Knight Riders Eyes should win at home because Rajasthan Royals targets to spoil the party

While riding high on their new-way confidence, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders will finally see it right at home and keep their playoff hopes alive for taking a struggling Rajasthan Royals in their IPL match in Kolkata on Sunday. With the remaining four league matches, KKR’s equation is straightforward-winning and reaching 17 points, overall, a place should be secured in the top-four without relying on other results. The challenge, although simple on paper, stands in reality.

The final stages of his campaign include two domestic matches-against the Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday-on May 10 against Sunrisers Hyderabad and an in-form Royal Challengers Bangalore (17 May) after two fixtures.

While SRH has lost steam, the RCB is charging on the table, making the final conflict in Bengaluru to be a high-handing encounter.

But it is still far away.

For now, the knights should focus on what is the two back-to-back game in the Eden Gardens starting with Royals.

Interestingly, both RR and CSK are among the most inconsistent aspects this season and were abolished.

The CSK became the first team to be out of the playoff race, and RR soon terminated Mumbai Indians in Jaipur after the loss of 100 runs.

However, it makes them dangerous opponents. With nothing to lose, both CSK and RR can spoil KKR’s party.

But KKR’s big concern is his poor run at home.

The Eden Garden, once his fort, has won only one of the five matches this season-the latest rain-affected washouts against the Punjabi Kings.

His spinners have struggled to accommodate the grip and variable bounce, some rival teams have exploited far more effectively.

Batting, too, is very low that is far from the explosive unit that operated him for the title in 2024.

Rinku Singh, who came into the limelight last season, has struggled to influence with just 169 runs out of eight innings.

Quinton de Coke, planted to fill the gap of Phil Salat at the top, lacks stability with 143 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 137.50.

But the biggest sluggish is his most expensive purchasing of the season, Venkatesh Iyer, who has been signed for Rs 23.75 crore and has been made vice-captains.

The pressure seems to have taken a toll.

Venkatesh has scored only 142 runs in 10 matches and has scored just 28 runs in his last three innings-a sharp decline in 2024 with his 370-run tally at a sharp fall of more than 158.

This season has been the most reliable batsman of KKR, Captain Ajinkya Rahane, nursing one hand injury during fielding.

“I’m fine. I am trying my best and hopefully I will play the match on Sunday,” he said.

A major positive Delhi capital for KKR was about to win 14 runs on their morale, which ended the three -match winning run.

Sunil Narendra was the architect of Jeet-16 balls with Balley, a match winner 3/29 with the ball and a great direct-hit run-out that sent KL Rahul packing.

The all-round brillions of Trinidadian provided a bad need for Spark KKR, and their experience would be important again as they rule their campaign.

For Rajasthan Royals, the tournament is out of control.

With just one win in his last seven matches, his auction strategy has stolen the flaws.

Batting and bowling depth lack, combined with injuries, has a initial exit.

The 14 -year -old sensation Vaibhav was a rare moment of Suryavanshi’s amazing 35 -ball centenary magic, but Royals cannot rely on such personal talent every time.

The absence of Jose Butler, who moved to Gujarat Titans, and Captain Sanju Samson, who has missed most of the season due to injury, has given up his batting to look thinner.

Yashasvi Jaiswal has given top orders, but the middle-order trio between Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurlel and Nitish Rana has done a weak performance.

Jurall has one of the 10 innings to show fifty and 249 runs, while Hetmier has scored 187 runs at an average of 20.77.

Rana, who returns to face his former team, has failed to find the rhythm and will be subject to the investigation from the 2023 distinction.

Bowling has not performed better.

Without Yuzvendra Chahal-to do miracles for Punjab Kings, which involves lifting another hat-trick-may lack entry into them, especially on slow tracks such as Eden.

Vanindu Hasranga missed the last game with an swallow and it remains to be seen if he has come back.

Joffra Archer has taken 10 wickets in 11 matches, but at an expensive average of 40.10. Mahesh Thekshana has also failed to give.

(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is published by a syndicated feed.)