The opening match of the IPL 2023 season will feature a face-off between the Punjab Kings and the Kolkata Knight Riders, with both teams looking to start their campaign with a win. While both teams may not appear to be the strongest in the league this season, this match could prove to be crucial for setting the tone for the rest of their season.
As of now, the odds for both teams are pretty similar, with the Punjab Kings being slightly favored over the Kolkata Knight Riders. However, a closer analysis of the two teams could shed some light on which team has a better chance of emerging victorious in this match.
The match is scheduled to take place on April 1, 2023, at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. Fans and cricket enthusiasts alike will be eagerly looking forward to this opening match of the season, which is sure to set the tone for the rest of the tournament.
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PUNJAB TO WIN THE MATCH
Table of contents
Head to Head
The Punjab Kings and the Kolkata Knight Riders have a long-standing rivalry in the IPL, with KKR dominating the head-to-head record 20-10. From 2014 to 2017, KKR won eight straight matches against PBKS, but the rivalry has been more even in recent years with both teams winning two out of the previous four matches against each other. This makes the upcoming match between these two teams in IPL 2023 even more intriguing, as both teams will be looking to gain an early advantage in the tournament. Fans can expect a highly competitive match with both teams giving their all to come out on top.
IPL Live Streaming
For fans looking to catch the PBKS vs KKR IPL 2023 match, there are multiple viewing options available. The match will be streamed on Jiocinema, which can be accessed through both the app and website across various platforms and carriers. In addition, viewers can also catch the match on television through Star Sports in all major and regional languages. So, whether you prefer streaming or traditional TV viewing, you can easily tune in to watch the exciting clash between Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2023.
Punjab Kings
Introduction: The Punjab Kings missed out on the playoffs in IPL 2022 despite having a strong squad. With a few changes in the team, they are ready to take on the Kolkata Knight Riders in their first match of IPL 2023.
Team Analysis: Punjab Kings have a similar squad to the last season with the addition of Sam Curran. They have the potential to field a strong overseas lineup including Curran, Liam Livingstone, and Kagiso Rabada. However, the absence of Jonny Bairstow due to injury is a setback for the team. Punjab Kings also have a decent set of Indian players, with Shikhar Dhawan as the captain and Arshdeep Singh as their key Indian T20 player. The team lacks a top-order Indian batsman, but the likes of Shahrukh Khan or Harpreet Singh Bhatia could step up.
Recent Form: Some of the key players in the Punjab Kings squad are on a downtrend, including Shikhar Dhawan and Rahul Chahar, who has struggled after initial success in IPL. The youngsters in the team have not yet lived up to their potential.
Conclusion: Punjab Kings have a solid core of overseas players, but they are missing some crucial Indian pieces in their squad. It remains to be seen how they will perform in IPL 2023, especially in their opening match against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Punjab Kings Playing 11
Arshdeep Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Harpreet Brar, Jitesh Sharma, Nathan Ellis, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Rahul Chahar, Sam Curran, Shahrukh Khan, Shikhar Dhawan (c), Sikandar Raza
Kolkata Knight Riders
Introduction: In the lead-up to IPL 2023, KKR received a huge blow when it was revealed that Shreyas Iyer won’t be available for most of the season, leaving them without their best batter and forcing them to reconsider their team balance.
Team Analysis: With Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Venkatesh Iyer being the only guaranteed players, KKR may have to alter their usual strategy of picking one overseas bowler and one additional all-rounder due to Iyer’s absence. Instead, they may have to play both overseas all-rounders, Shakib Al Hasan or David Wiese, for added depth in both the batting and bowling departments.
N Jagadeesan, Shardul Thakur, Nitish Rana, Umesh Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy are expected to fill the remaining spots in the team. However, the Indian contingent of KKR has been inconsistent in their IPL careers, which could be a cause for concern.
Recent Form: KKR’s recent form has been mixed, and their lineup may struggle to perform without the presence of Shreyas Iyer.
Conclusion: Despite having match-winners in their overseas players, KKR’s Indian contingent has not consistently performed at the IPL level, and Iyer’s absence could prove to be a major challenge for the team in IPL 2023. While KKR may win some matches on the back of individual performances, it may struggle to put together a consistent run of victories throughout the tournament.
Kolkata Knight Riders Playing 11
Andre Russell, Anukul Roy, Mandeep Singh, Nitish Rana (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rinku Singh, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy
Team Summary – Punjab vs Kolkata 2nd Match
Punjab Kings:
- Strong squad for IPL 2023 with addition of Sam Curran
- Potential lineup of Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa/Matthew Short
- Shikhar Dhawan leads the squad as captain and main batter
- Arshdeep Singh a key Indian player as regular T20 international
- Lack of top-order Indian batter and concern over some big players on a downtrend
Kolkata Knight Riders:
- Suffered blow with Shreyas Iyer’s absence for majority/all of season
- Team balance may need to change without Iyer
- Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Venkatesh Iyer likely locked into playing eleven
- Indian contingent seen as stale with middling IPL careers
- IPL 2023 could be a big struggle for KKR
Pitch And Conditions
Weather:
While there may be some clouds on match day, the weather is not expected to have a major impact on the match. Teams can expect mild conditions with temperatures ranging between 25-30 degrees Celsius.
Pitch Analysis:
The IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali is considered a high-scoring venue with an average score of 165.6 batting first. However, teams will need to aim for a total of at least 180 to feel comfortable defending. The average winning total batting first is 178.9, which suggests that chasing can also be a viable option.
Spin bowling is expected to play a key role on this pitch, as the average economy rate for spinners is 7.7 compared to 8.1 for fast bowlers. Teams will look to their spinners to keep the run flow in check and take wickets in the middle overs.
Punjab vs Kolkata 2nd Match – Betting Tips
In the PBKS vs KKR IPL 2023 match, we believe that the Punjab Kings have the edge over their opponents. They seem to have a more balanced lineup, with some dynamic and in-form all-rounders. Both teams rely heavily on their overseas players to make the difference, so the Indian contingent could be the deciding factor. The Punjab Kings appear to have a stronger Indian core, which may give them an edge in the contest.
More Predictions
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