IPL 2018 Playoffs KKR vs RR

   

At the Eden Gardens on Wednesday, home side KKR will take on RR in the Eliminator of the IPL 11. Unlike the first qualifier, where the losing team would still hold a chance to make it to the final, the Eliminator will see either of the team ending it's campaign with a loss.
New Delhi: At the Eden Gardens on Wednesday, home side KKR will take on RR in the Eliminator of the IPL 11. Unlike the first qualifier, where the losing team would still hold a chance to make it to the final, the Eliminator will see either of the team ending it's campaign with a loss.

KKR and RR have ended 3rd and 4th respectively on the points table. But while KKR had a great start, RR pulled off exciting wins towards the later part of the campaign to just about making the playoffs.

As a matchup and on paper, KKR looks a dominant side. There is a reason to that as RR will be playing the playoffs without their two best players -- Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes -- who had to leave the IPL in-between due to national commitments.
RR have benefitted immensely through Buttler's pyrotechnical form while Stokes produced spells of tight and economical bowling. But the Ajinkya Rahane lead side will have to find ways to string together performances against a side that is not just oozing confidence but is brimming with accomplished names.

As far as the head-to-head record is concerned, KKR will have the upper hand as they beat RR twice this season. At the start of the season, it were the batsmen that stood up for the side but they developed their bowling well as the campaign reached the fag end of the group stages.

Royals could depend on Rahul tripathi to provide them a rousing start but it will be interesting to see how Ajinkya Rahane conceptualises his batting. With literally a fragile batting order, Rahane will have to take it upon himself to anchor the innings.

On the other hand, KKR would expect Sunil Narine to fire at the top. His all-round abilities have been pivotal to KKr's success and this is the time when Narine can assure KKR of his worth.