IPL 2023: 3 Players Who Will Be Crucial for Kolkata Knight Riders to Win SRH vs KKR Match No. 47

IPL 2023: The two-time champion Kolkata Knight Riders have had a very disappointing performance so far. A team with a number of superstars is struggling to find its feet in the competition. KKR has only won three games out of the nine they have played in the 16th edition of the league. With the competition heading towards the playoffs, every game for Kolkata is now a must-win match.

KKR will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in their next game on Thursday at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium. Both teams have played a match already this season, which SRH won by 23 runs. Meanwhile, KKR is coming off a 7-wicket defeat at the hands of the Gujarat Titans. Thus, Nitish Rana and his men need to perform out of their skins to turn the tables from here on. So we will talk about three KKR players who can win SRH vs KKR Match No. 47.

IPL 2023: 3 Key Players for Kolkata Knight Riders in SRH vs KKR Match No. 47

3. Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Rahmanullah Gurbaz got a game in the absence of Jason Roy, and he made the most of it. The Afghan star was at his blistering best against the Gujarat Titans. He smashed 81 off just 39, with five fours and seven sixes at a superb strike rate of 207.69. Gurbaz was unstoppable on the power play. KKR will want him to continue his momentum into the game, SRH.

He will be like a key for his team on Thursday because Kolkata is struggling at the moment. A good start can boost confidence and put the opposition under pressure. Gurbaz is a free-flowing batter who likes to take on the bowlers. This season, he has scored 183 runs at a decent strike rate of 145.24 with two half-centuries.

2. Jason Roy

The English star opener, Jason Roy, missed the last game as he was unwell. But he is likely to play on Thursday against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Roy has made the most impact on his team since he joined KKR. In the three games he has played, he has been the top scorer for Kolkata. Roy has also scored two half-centuries in three games.

So far, he has made 160 runs at an excellent average and strike rate of 53.33 and 170.21, respectively, including 11 sixes. He is a proven customer who has won countless games for England with his attacking approach. That is what KKR needs from him. A quick start can surely put SRH under the pump. He is also in fine form and will look to play another impactful inning on Thursday.

1. Andre Russell

This season, KKR has missed the impact of Andre Russell, which is one of the reasons that the two-time champion is struggling in the IPL 2023. Russell has been the key performer for Kolkata and has been doing it consistently over the years. But the last couple of games have ended well for the all-rounder. Russell took three wickets in the last game against SRH earlier this season.

So far, he has scored 142 runs at a strike rate of 146.39 and also picked up six wickets in total. His performance will be the key to success if the two-time champions want to make a move in this competition. Because Russell is the “X” factor in the team, he can change the match in any situation single-handedly.