Two time winner Kolkata Knight Rider (KKR) is one of the consistent teams in the Indian Premier League. However, when it comes to facing the newly formed team Gujarat Lions (GL), KKR has been falling face first the two times they have met.
Last year GL proved to be one of the biggest surprises as they were the only new team to reach the play-offs. We should also keep in mind the smart decisions GL’s management has made in this year’s auction. GL kept the core team alive and let go of eight players. Also, they spent smartly & not lavishly has made GL one of the strongest team in the competition.
GL’s top 5 batsmen got to the feat of 300+ runs in last season, a benchmark that no other team has been able to achieve. Also, it was GL who managed to grab 70+ runs on four occasions in the power play last season. Definitely, for GL, batting is one of the strong points which needs to KKR need to worry.
On the other hand, KKR despite having an average last season will be mentally strong as they face GL for the third time. But it is GL who will have the upper hand as the team composition of KKR is very bleak. Absence of Andre Russell who faces a yearlong ban will hurt the KKR dugout the most.
As far as weather is concerned, Rajkot will have clear weather conditions. Temperatures are likely to be in the higher reaches of 20 degrees when the match starts. The maximum temperature is expected to touch 40 degrees which means that the weather will be warm and dry. North-northwesterly winds will allow the temperatures to normalize.
Image Credit: IPL
Please Note: Any information on weather picked from here must be attributed to skymetweather.com