IPL 2023 match preview: Kolkata Knight Riders v Sunrisers Hyderabad

Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2023 IPL

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What's the match?

Kolkata Knight Riders take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2023 Indian Premier League.

When is it taking place?

The match is set to get underway at 7.30pm local time (3pm BST) on Friday, April 14.

Where is the match being played?

The two sides will face off at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Who's got form?

Following Rinku Singh's final-over heroics versus Gujarat Titans on Sunday, Kolkata Knight Riders sit third in the table with two wins and a loss. The star-studded Sunrisers Hyderabad have yet to arrive in the tournament, losing twice and winning once so far.

Since a rain-affected loss versus Punjab Kings, KKR have hit their stride, posting 204 in an 81-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore before chasing 205 against the Titans.

Against RCB, allrounder Shardul Thakur backed up 68 runs from 29 balls with 1 for 15 from two overs as they stifled the Royal Challengers' batters. Varun Chakaravarthy's leg-spin claimed 4 for 15. 

Then, in Sunday's thriller, Ventakesh Iyer's 83 from 40 balls was supported by captain Nitish Rana (45 from 29) and, of course, Rinku Singh. The stocky left-hander produced arguably the greatest finishing display in IPL history, hitting five sixes from the first five balls of Yash Dayal's final over

As for Sunrisers, a seven-wicket victory over Punjab Kings will provide some much needed momentum. Wickets for Mayank Markande (4 for 15), Marco Jansen (2 for 16) and Umran Malik (2-32) ensured a manageable chase of 144.

A century partnership between Rahul Tripathi (74 not out from 48 balls) and captain Aiden Markram (37 not out from 21) saw them cruise home.

What's the team news?

KKR have no fresh injury concerns. The recently arrived Jason Roy could be given his first IPL outing since 2021 alongside Rahmanullah Gurbaz at the top of the order.

Whether Iyer is used as an Impact Player again, or from the start, remains to be seen.  

Sunrisers Hyderabad's misfiring batting lineup could lead to Kiwi Glenn Phillips reintroduced. 

Harry Brook, who has only managed 29 runs in three innings, was promoted to an opening spot in the Punjab Kings chase but failed to make an impact.

Having spent IR 13.25 crore (~£1.3m) on Brook at auction, SRH will surely continue to back a player who has taken international cricket by storm.  

An option for Markram could be to replace Heinrich Klaasen with Phillips behind the stumps, in line with the overseas rules. It would then be a choice of Phillips or Brook to open, with the other pushed down to the middle order.  

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Kolkata Knight Riders celebrate victory over Gujarat Titans [AFP via Getty Images]

What's the key matchup?

Quite simply, SRH are in need of runs and Harry Brook is due some. 

He loves pace on the ball and in Lockie Ferguson, KKR have the quickest bowler in the 2023 IPL so far. 

Let the Englishman loose at Ferguson, Umesh Yadav and Thakur up top and leave Phillips, Markram and Tripathi to think about the guile of Sunile Narine, Chakaravarthy and Suyash Sharma.  

Head-to-head record

Matches played: 23

Kolkata Knight Riders wins: 15

Sunrisers Hyderabad wins: 8

What's the weather forecast?

Kolkata is forecast to reach highs of 41 degrees Celsius during the day before cooling to 33 degrees by the evening's start time. 

What are the squads?

Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (injured), Nitish Rana (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Anukul Roy, Rinku Singh, N Jadadeesan, Vaibhav Arora, Suyash Sharma, David Wiese, Kulwant Khejroliya, Litton Das, Mandeep Singh, Shakib Al Hasan (unavailable), Jason Roy (replacement signing)

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abdul Samad, Aiden Markram, Rahul Tripathi, Glenn Phillips, Abhishek Sharma, Marco Jansen, Washington Sundar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kartik Tyagi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan, Umran Malik, Harry Brook, Mayank Agarwal, Heinrich Klaasen, Adil Rashid, Mayank Markande, Vivrant Sharma, Samarth Vyas, Sanvir Singh, Upendra Yadav, Mayank Dagar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Anmolpreet Singh, Akeal Hosein

*squads are for the 2023 season as a whole and not specific to this match

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Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Aiden Markram [AFP via Getty Images]

What are the possible starting XIs?

Kolkata Knight Riders: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Jason Roy, Ventakesh Iyer, Nitish Rana (c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakaravarthy

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Mayank Agarwal, Harry Brook, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram (c), Glenn Phillips (wk), Washington Sundar, Marco Jansen, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Markande, Umran Malik, T Natarajan

What are the odds?

Kolkata Knight Riders are odds-on favourites at 10/11. Sunrisers Hyderabad are available at evens. 

Prediction?

SRH's bowlers look to have hit form and a flat Eden Gardens wicket could be just what their batters need. 

SRH win and Harry Brook runs to kickstart his 2023 IPL.  

Where can I watch the game?

In the UK, Sky Sports have exclusive rights to this year's tournament, with matches available on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket. 

Fans in India can watch all the action on Star Sports. 

Elsewhere in the world, viewers in Australia can watch the IPL on Fox Sports while in New Zealand, Sky Sport will provide coverage. 

Willow TV and Flow Sports will broadcast the tournament in the United States and the Caribbean, respectively. 

Fans in MENA can catch the action on beIN Sports while in South Africa, SuperSport have the rights. 

If you are watching from the Middle East, you'll be able to view the game on Times Internet. 

People from Bangladesh can watch the game on Gazi TV.


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