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KKR - 5 Players To Watch Out For In IPL 2019 IPL
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KKR - 5 Players To Watch Out For In IPL 2019

The two-time champions and one of the semi-finalists last year, Kolkata Knight Riders have seen so many changes over the last 12 years of IPL. There is an emotional connection as well that make KKR different team from the others. From their most beloved son Sourav Ganguly to Dinesh Karthik, KKR has had their ups and downs. After getting nothing in first three years of the tournament, KKR cuts the ties with Ganguly and handed the captaincy to Gautam Gambhir who won them 2 titles in first years of his captaincy term and became the synonym of KKR.## In 2018, Dinesh Karthik was handed the captaincy and did well to take KKR to the playoffs in his first term as captain. Though KKR has some high-class batsman in Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa, and Dinesh Karthik, their strongest link has always been their bowling that will again lead by Kuldeep Yadav and Sunil Narine, two world-class spinners along with the pacers like Lockie Ferguson, and Andre Russell.## Keeping the injuries aside, KKR is looking strong enough to make to the top four again. However, we understand that there are five players who will decide the fate of the KKR and can turn the match on single-handedly on any day.## Here is the list of the 5 players to watch out for in IPL 2019 (KKR):## 1. Chris Lynn (Batsman) - A strong bottom hand batsman who can take even the best of a bowler on any day, Chris Lynn is one of the most accomplished batsmen in Australia. In Big Bash League, Australia crowd know him as the best hitter of the cricket ball. He has become KKR's number one choice of a foreign batsman and has been sensational as an opener in the last couple of seasons and KKR would be hoping him continue that form in 2019 as well.## A statical view of his IPL career## YearMatchesInningsRunsH.S.10050S.R. 2018 16 16 491 74 0 3 130.23 Overall 28 28 875 93 0 6 141.13 ## 2. Shubman Gill (Batsman) - According to Virat Kohli "He was not even 20% of what Shubman Gill at this stage". Well, it is nothing sort of the biggest compliment Gill can ever get from the world's best batsman himself. The player of the tournament of India's U-19 world cup title triumph last year, Gill made his IPL debut last year and was impressive in phases. With the experience of the last year, he is going to play the key role this year for the KKR.## A statical view of his IPL career## YearMatchesInningsRunsH.S.10050S.R. 2018 13 11 203 57* 0 1 146.04 ## 3. Andre Russell (All-Rounder) - A typical West Indian player, Andre Russell is a bustling pacer and a powerful lower middle-order batsman too. He has one of the best strike rates in IPL. His ability to change the game on his terms makes him the player to watch out for in this year's Indian Premier League.## A statical view of his IPL career (Batting)## YearMatchesInningsRunsH.S.10050S.R. 2018 16 14 316 88* 0 1 184.79 Overall 50 39 890 88* 0 4 177.29 ## Bowling## YearMatchesInningsWicketsBBI5-WicketsEcon 2018 16 15 13 - 0 9.38 Overall 50 49 44 4/20 0 8.75 ## 4. Lockie Ferguson (Bowler) - On pacy Eden Gardens pitch, Lockie Ferguson can trouble any batsman with his serious pacy deliveries. After making his IPL debut in 2017, Ferguson could only play 4 games and didn't play in last season. But he has the edge of the extra Pace that makes him a player to watch out for.## A statical view of his IPL career## YearMatchesInningsWicketsBBI5-WicketsEcon 2018 - - - - - - Overall 4 4 3 2/7 0 7.15 ## 5. Sunil Narine (All-Rounder) - Sunil Narine is a bowler who can bat and bat well. After Gautam Gambhir promoted him as an opener, he has become one of the most valuable players in IPL history. KKR is lucky enough to have both Russell and Narine who have strike rate over 170 in IPL and both are equally effective with the ball. No wonder he has become KKR's integral part along with Russell and Lynn.## A statical view of his IPL career (Batting)## YearMatchesInningsRunsH.S.10050S.R. 2018 16 16 357 75 0 2 189.89 Overall 98 48 628 75 0 3 168.82 ## Bowling## YearMatchesInningsWicketsBBI5-WicketsEcon 2018 16 16 17 - 0 7.65 Overall 98 97 112 5/19 1 6.54 ## Follow for more...

IPL 2018: Team Of The Tournament IPL
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IPL 2018: Team Of The Tournament

According to us, this is the best IPL XI of season 2018 :## Openers## 1. KL Rahul - KL Rahul has arguably been the best batsman of this season of IPL. He has scored 659 runs with a strike rate of 158.41 in 14 innings. Even though his best season with the bat couldn't help KXIP to qualify for the playoffs but he stood out as a lone warrior on many occasions for his side. He also recorded the fastest fifty of this season against Delhi Daredevils (14 balls).## 2. Ambati Rayudu - Ambati Rayudu is having his one of the best seasons with the bat with Chennai Super Kings. He has been consistent throughout the season and has scored 586 runs with a strike rate of 153 so far. He also recorded his maiden IPL hundred against Sunrisers Hyderabad.## Middle order## 3. Kane Williamson - Sunrisers' skipper picks himself at number 3. He has been a standout performer for his team. Having Purple Cap already to his name he has scored 686 runs with 8 fifty plus score (most by any in this season) in 16 innings played so far.## 4. Rishabh Pant - Very similar to Williamson, Pant also picks himself at number 4. Scored 684 runs with a strike rate of 173.60 in 14 innings. He was the only player who stood out for DD on numerous occasion. His knock of 126* against RCB been the highlight of this season.## 5. MS Dhoni (WK/C) - Mahendra Singh Dhoni has played a different role in this season with a different approach. This has been arguably the best season for him in terms of batting. He promoted himself up at number 5 and has scored 455 runs and a strike rate of 150.66 in 15 innings so far. CSK also reaches into the final for the record 7th time under his captaincy.## 6. Dinesh Karthik - Dinesh Karthik has been brilliant for Kolkata Knight Riders in this season. The reason for putting him at number 6 is that he can be provided finishing touch in the end. He has scored 498 runs in 16 innings.## All rounders## 7. Sunil Narine - This shouldn't be any doubt in picking Narine as an all-rounder. He has been the most valuable player for KKR over the years and is the most destructive player since last season. Having scored 357 runs and taking 17 wickets, he found his place at number 7 in our playing XI.## 8. Hardik Pandya - Hardik Pandya will be our second all-rounder in playing XI. He provides the extra option with his pace bowling. Even though it hasn't been his best season with the bat yet he can be dangerous at any stage. He has scored 260 runs and grabbed 18 wickets in 14 innings.## Bowlers## 9. Rashid Khan - Well there is no surprise in choosing Rashid Khan. He is the most valuable player of this season. The number 1 T20I bowler has picked 21 wickets in 16 innings.## 10. Umesh Yadav - Umesh Yadav has impressed the most with his pace bowling. He always provided an initial breakthrough in clusters to Royal Challengers Bangalore. He picked 20 wickets in 14 innings and found his place at number 10 in our playing XI.## 11. Andrew Tye - Tye was the premier bowler for KXIP in this season. And also has a Purple Cap with 24 wickets in 14 innings.## However, there are so many other players who performed really well throughout the season but we recognised that these 11 were the best among all of them.## Thanks for the reading.

Knight Riders survive Rahul, Ashwin's fireworks IPL
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Knight Riders survive Rahul, Ashwin's fireworks

KL Rahul and skipper Ravichandran Ashwin's stunning innings went in vain as Kolkata Knight Riders beat Kings XI Punjab by 31 runs in yet another run feast contest at Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore on Saturday (May 12). KKR posted 245 on board before KL Rahul came out with all guns to fire. He provided a explosive start to KXIP before bowled out by Sunil Narine. He scored 66 off 29 balls with the help of 2 fours and 7 sixes. However, Ashwin fought hard till the end but couldn't see through his team as they restricted on 214.## Sunil Narine roar again##Kings XI Punjab opted to bowl first after winning the toss. On a batting heavy pitch, Narine took full advantage of the new ball. After playing 7 balls, he was dropped by Mujeeb Ur Rahaman on his own ball and that proved costly in the end. He hit six on next ball and followed up with a four. However, Chris Lynn was bowled out by Andrew Tye after scoring 27 off 17 balls including 2 fours and 2 sixes. He put on a 53-run stand for the first wicket with Narine.## After Lynn's wicket Narine became even more aggressor and hit Axer Patel for a six and followed up back to back fours to Ashwin. In this process, he reached to his second fifty of this IPL off 26 balls. He celebrated this with a two sixes and a four to Barinder Sran in 11th over. He was looking unstoppable before Tye got him out to Rahul. He scored 75 off 36 balls including 9 fours and 4 sixes. Before he got out, KKR had already reached on 128 in just 12th over. He was awarded Man Of The Match for his brilliant innings.## How KKR reached on 246 after Narine got out## KXIP tried to pulled things back after grabbing Narine and Uthappa in space of 3 balls. However, it didn't affected KKR's approach and the kept playing their shots. This time Skipper Dinesh Karthik along with Andre Russell took charge. Karthik hit his first boundary after facing only one ball to Patel. They both took Axer Patel in 15 over and scored 19 runs with 2 sixes and a four. They didn't stop here and assaulted on Mujeeb in 16th over and collect 21 runs with 2 fours and 2 big sixes.## However, Russell lost his wicket after hitting a boundary in 17th over as Tye picked his 4th wicket. After the wicket of Russell, Karthik got his first fifty of this IPL off just 22 balls before Brinder Sran grabbed him in last over. Shubman Gill then add few more runs to the total and help KKR to finished with a mammoth total of 246 after 20 overs.## How good was KL Rahul again## Chasing 247, KL Rahul continued his ruthless form and shown his intent from the very first over where he hit back to back sixes to Narine. On the other end, Chris Gayle was taking his time to get set. Rahul was on fire as KXIP reached to fifty in just 5 overs. However, on the score of 57, they lost Gayle and Mayank Agarwal in successive balls. But it didn't affect Rahul as he got his another fifty in this IPL off just 22 balls. He was going after every ball and it resulted his wicket after hitting 2 sixes to Narine in space of 3 balls. He scored quick fire 66 off 29 balls with 2 fours and 7 maximums.## Ashwin took KXIP to close the target## After losing Rahul on 93 after 9 overs it was looking that KXIP's chances of winning the match also gone. But first Aaron Finch's 34 off 20 and after that Ashwin played a quickfire knock of 45 off 22 balls and made sure Punjab came close to the target. He put on a 53-run stand with Tye for the 7th wicket. However, their effort didn't prove enough as they remain 31 short of the target.## Andre Russell- The game changer## Andre Russell put on a all-round show in this match. He scored valuable 31 off 14 balls with bat and after that changed the game completely by picking 3 wickets. He first sent back Gayle and Agarwal in back to back balls and after that grabbed inform Karun Nair. However, he was expensive with ball as he conceded 41 runs in 4 overs.## For more updates and news, stay tuned to us.## Thanks for reading.

Gill, Karthik Star As KKR Overcome CSK's Challenge IPL
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Gill, Karthik Star As KKR Overcome CSK's Challenge

Kolkata Knight Riders put on an all-round show to beat Chennai Super Kings by 6- wickets at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Thursday (May 3). This win lifted KKR to the 3rd spot in points table. KKR, after winning the all-important toss and put CSK to bat. CSK off to a flying start before Piyush Chawla dismissed Faf du Plessis (27 off 15 balls) on 48. At the other end, Shane Watson continued his good form before he pulled a rank long hop straight to deep-midwicket for 36. Raina and Rayudu followed Watson after sedate cameos, courtesy some excellent bowling from Sunil Narine and Kuldeep Yadav in middle overs. But MS Dhoni's 25-balls 43 lifted CSK to 177 after 20 overs.## Chasing 178, Chris Lynn again got out cheaply. He made 12 off 6 with two maximum. But some lusty blows from Narine pushed KKR to 40 runs where they lost Uthappa on 6. KKR promoted Shubman Gill to no.4 and that proved to be a masterstroke as he finished on unbeaten 56 off 35 balls and his partnership of 36-balls 83* with skipper Dinesh Karthik (18-ball 45*) guided KKR home comfortably in the end.## Where did this match slip from CSK despite solid start## In between 10 and 15 overs, CSK were going great at the end of 10-over mark with 90 on board? But suddenly they found difficult to get runs and managed only 31 runs in next 5 overs. On the other hand, KKR scored 51 in this period and that proved to be costly for CSK in the end. ## Spin The trio- Game Changers For KKR## Spinners have been KKR's biggest strength so far in this IPL. Their performance against CSK was a great example of their strength. Karthik opted to go with Chawla straightaway in second over. A beautiful googly stunned du Plessis, a short ball from Narine did it for Watson. The combined figures of the trio read 12-0-89-5. It was spinners who restricted CSK to 177.## Shubman Gill- Rising Star Of IPL 2018##Shubman Gill came with high reputation after his performance in Under-19 World Cup, where he was named Man Of The Tournament. However he didn't get a chance to play up the order in previous games for KKR but when he got, he grabbed this opportunity with both hands. He came out to bat when KKR lost 2 wickets on 40. He didn't take too much time to get going and hit 3 boundaries to Shane Watson. His half-whip, half-sweep against Harbhajan Singh, was shot of the innings. Gill showed immense maturity and potential in his maiden IPL fifty. His partnership with Karthik comfortably took KKR to win and helped his team to garner two crucial points.##Vintage Dhoni##Undoubtedly, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is playing his best cricket in this IPL. It must be such a sight for cricket lovers to sew Dhoni turn the clock back and reminds us his vintage hitting days. Despite suffering from back pain, he continued played such innings an important stage. And against KKR, was another exhibition of clean striking. Shivam Mavi and Mitchell Johnson tried to test him with short balls but he sent them into stands. In his 25-balls 43 innings, he hit 2 sixes to Johnson, One to Mavi and One to Kuldeep. He was struck with 172. This was the mark that MS Dhoni is well and truly back.## Sunil Narine awarded Man Of The Match for his match-changing spell (4-0-20-2)## For More Updates And News, Stay Tuned To Us.## Thanks For Reading.