IPL 2023: 3 Players Who Will Be Crucial for Kolkata Knight Riders to Win DC vs KKR Match No. 28

IPL 2023: After winning two games out of their first three matches, Kolkata Knight Riders were in great form. But then, they suffered two consecutive losses to SRH and MI in their last games. To some extent, it has harmed KKR’s chances of making the playoffs. And now, they will look to avoid the hat-trick of defeats when they step on the field on Thursday.

KKR will lock horns with Delhi Capitals on April 20 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, at 7:30 p.m. Though DC has not won any games this season and is at the bottom of the table, KKR can’t think to write them off. Nitish Rana and his men will need a strong effort to beat DC at their home ground. Thus, this article will feature three crucial KKR players to win DC vs KKR Match No. 28.

IPL 2023: 3 Key Players for Kolkata Knight Riders in DC vs KKR Match No. 28

3. Sunil Narine

KKR has one of the best spin attacks in the league right now. They have got three good spinners in their lineup who are different from each other. Varun Chakaravarthy has taken seven wickets, and Suyash Sharma has six wickets so far. But the leader of that spin attack is Sunil Narine, who has been the best of the lot.

Narine has six wickets so far, but his biggest weapon is that he dries up the scoring rate in the middle overs. He can be a big threat for DC batters because they would already be lacking confidence after five consecutive losses. Narine is also bowling some overs in the power play, which can take wickets up front. He is equally effective against right-handers and left-handers both and will be very hard to pick for the DC batters.

2. Nitish Rana

KKR skipper Nitish Rana plays for Delhi at the state level and is aware of the pitch and the conditions at the Arun Jaitley stadium, which can end in KKR’s favor. Adding to that, he has also shown some great form in this tournament and is among the top scorers for the franchise. Rana is an aggressive batter by nature who loves to take on the bowlers.

He has scored 150 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 147.06 with 10 sixes. The KKR skipper is very important for the middle order because he can play the aggressor and anchor roles effectively. After two consecutive defeats, he will look to take his team home and register their third win, and we might see him play a match-winning inning.

1. Venkatesh Iyer

Venkatesh Iyer became only the second KKR batter in 16 seasons to score a century when he smashed his maiden IPL hundred against MI in the last game. Though KKR couldn’t win that game, Iyer was adjudged “Man of the Match” for his brilliant ton. He made 104 off 51 balls, including six fours and nine sixes.

Earlier, he also played a match-winning knock of 83 runs against GT when KKR won. Iyer is currently the third-highest run scorer in the competition. He has scored 234 runs in five innings at 46.80 and a brilliant strike rate of 146.54. Iyer will be a potential threat to DC as the ground in Delhi is not that big and he can smash any bowler as he has done so far. KKR will want him to continue where he left off in the last game, which can help them collect two important points on Thursday.