IPL 2024: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals Best Bets

will see two relatively in-form sides go head-to-head as Kolkata Knight Riders play host to Delhi Capitals at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. These two sides are amongst the best in the competition when it comes to batting run rates but the worst for bowling economy rates, which should make for a high-scoring encounter. We’ve prepared the best bets for this contest.

Venue: Eden Gardens

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Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, known for its small boundaries, has seen a staggering 2,037 runs scored in just five matches this IPL season, averaging 407 runs per game. The home team won three of these high-scoring contests but struggled against top teams, failing to defend totals of 223/6 against Rajasthan and 261/6 against Punjab, with the latter setting a record for the highest successful T20 chase.

As Kolkata wraps up a five-game home stretch, securing only two wins would be disappointing, particularly as it questions the strategic advantage of a top-two finish. The venue has consistently witnessed both teams scoring over 200 runs in four out of five matches this season. Key contributions have come from openers Phil Salt and Sunil Narine, alongside impactful knocks from Andre Russell and Shreyas Iyer. Despite Narine’s economical 6.20 RPO, all other Knight Riders’ bowlers have struggled, each surpassing an economy of 10 RPO, including Dushmantha Chameera who recently replaced the injured Mitchell Starc.

Delhi, facing their challenges to contain runs, has been part of the highest-scoring games this season, conceding over 220 runs five times. Yet, their batsmen have responded fiercely, managing to defend totals of 224 and 257 in recent matches. With an economy and scoring rate in the double digits, they match Kolkata’s high-scoring profile. Despite injuries to David Warner and Ishant Sharma, which could see Lizaad Williams play again after a rocky debut, Delhi remains competitive. Notably, Jake Fraser-McGurk has emerged as an exceptional value player, dominating in the powerplay with 183 runs at nearly 16 RPO. Tristan Stubbs has also impressed in the middle order scoring at a rapid rate.

Facing Kolkata, Punjab is seen as the underdog, a role they’ve struggled with this season, holding a 2/5 record in such games. On the other hand, KKR have excelled as favourites, with a 4/1 record. Punjab’s challenges are underscored by their second-last ranking for average score (173) and a league-high 58 wickets lost. Harshal Patel, their strike bowler, has found conditions tough in Kolkata, with past figures of 3/135 at an economy of 9.64 runs per over.

This should be an entertaining and high-scoring game at Eden Gardens and we expect a resurgent Delhi Capitals side to pull off the win.

Key Battle: Two of the powerplay standouts of the 2024 season are likely to duel once again after a brief stalemate in the previous H2H. Sunil Narine has been dismissed during the powerplay overs just twice this season and is thumping 10.64 runs per over, but he comes up against the man who finished his previous match as IPL 2024’s leading powerplay wicket-taker. Khaleel Ahmed has taken seven poles during the first six overs, more than twice as many as any of his teammates including Mukesh Kumar (three). 

Key Stats

The average innings score from 12 games in Kolkata since the start of 2023 is a massive 202, with seven scores clearing that mark and the other five finishing under 180.

Delhi Capitals have the worst record at Eden Gardens (W2, L7 against all opposition) of all active franchises.

Kolkata struck the most sixes in a match just twice in 2024, thanks to their bowlers conceding a league-worst 12 sixes per innings.

Jake Fraser-McGurk top-scored for Delhi in four of their last five innings.

Rasikh Salam returned Delhi’s best bowling figures in each of their last two games, fulfilling the Impact Player role on both occasions. 

Lizaad Williams has bowled just one ball to Phil Salt in T20s but dismissed him with that only ball (Pretoria Capitals v Joburg Super Kings, 2024 SA20).

Rishabh Pant averages just 21.5 in all T20s against the seven bowlers that Kolkata used in their last match.

Andre Russell has faced a total of 11 overs against the six bowlers Delhi used in their last game for a total score of 104/2.

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