KKR Playing XI vs PBKS: Nitish Rana-led Kolkata Knight Riders Opt for Tim Southee instead of Lockie Ferguson against Punjab Kings, Follow IPL 2023 LIVE Updates -

KKR Playing XI vs PBKS: Kolkata Knight Riders will face Punjab Kings in the first game of the campaign at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. Meanwhile, the two-time champions won the toss and opted to field first. The Men in Purple and Gold have gone with Tim Southee, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz as their four overseas players. Follow Indian Premier League 2023 Live Updates with Insidesport.IN

Kolkata Knight Riders Playing XI: Mandeep Singh, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Nitish Rana (c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Anukul Roy, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

Also read: CSK Playing XI vs GT: MS Dhoni FIT after injury scare, CSK mull pace options against Gujarat Titans as Ben Stokes only batting, Follow IPL 2023 LIVE Updates

KKR Team Formation

The greatest setback for KKR this season is the absence of captain Shreyas Iyer. Iyer’s back injury, which is still bothering him, will probably keep him out of action for at least the first part of IPL 2023. The team’s administration is putting their trust in Delhi’s left-handed batter Nitish Rana to captain the team without Shreyas. Meanwhile, Sunil Narine has joins the PBKS squad in Chandigarh on March 30.

Another big name missing in the KKR camp this season is the Australian skipper Pat Cummins. Owing to his workload, Pat Cummins has decided to opt out of this season. KKR hasn’t named a replacement yet for Cummins. They do have the likes of Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson who will be in the thick of things for KKR throughout the season.

Venkatesh Iyer and Rahmanullah Gurbaz will be opening the innings.
Nitish Rana will be batting at no 3 followed by Narayan Jagadeesan, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell.
The lower order will comprise Sunil Narine and Shardul Thakur who will be effective with both bat and ball.
In the bowling unit, the onus would be on Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Umesh Yadav, and between Lockie Ferguson or Tim Southee.

𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘢𝘺! 😌@Jagadeesan_200 #AmiKKR #TATAIPL2023 pic.twitter.com/UwUvjqgKId

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 30, 2023

Probable KKR playing XI

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
Jagadeesan
Nitish Rana (c)
Venkatesh Iyer
Andre Russell
Rinku Singh
Shardul Thakur
Sunil Narine
Lockie Ferguson/ Tim Southee
Umesh Yadav
Varun Chakravarthy

Probable 5 Substitute and Impact Player

Mandeep Singh
Tim Southee/Lockie Ferguson
Vaibhav Arora
Kulwant Khejrolia
Suyash Sharma

Kolkata Knight Riders Squad for IPL 2023: Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana (Captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Anukul Roy, Rinku Singh, Narayan Jagadeesan, Vaibhav Arora, Suyash Sharma, David Weise, Kulwant Khejrolia, Mandeep Singh, Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan.

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