IPL 2020: Top 3 picks for Kolkata Knight Riders against Kings XI Punjab

Kolkata Knight Riders are back to the winning ways and will face Kings XI Punjab at Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Saturday. A victory here for Kolkata Knight Riders will boost their chances of going up in the points table.

In their previous game against Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders pulled back the team to the contest. Kolkata Knight Riders were on the losing track after 12 overs with CSK cruising towards a victory. However, the dismissal of Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu triggered the things for KKR as Russell and Sunil Narine tightened the noose on CSK.

Dinesh Karthik survived one more game as a captain as the dark clouds are hovering around the player’s future as a captain. Eoin Morgan is waiting in the offing to take the captaincy from the player if the results don’t improve. The team will look to pile up more misery on Kings XI Punjab in the first game of the day.

Here are the top three picks for Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday if they are to defeat Kings XI Punjab:

#1) Rahul Tripathi

The opening batsman was sent as an opener against Chennai Super Kings and things worked out well for Kolkata Knight Riders. In the game against Delhi Capitals, the player came at No 8 with Pat Cummins being promoted ahead of Rahul Tripathi. However, the player showed his calibre despite he failed to take his team over the line.

After an excellent 81 against Chennai Super Kings in Dubai, Rahul Tripathi will look to continue his performance against the strugglers. He will be one of the top three picks for KKR on Saturday.

#2) Andre Russell

The Jamaican all-rounder is yet taken the bowlers into a task in the ongoing edition of the cash-rich Indian Premier League. However, he has done wonders for the team with the ball and will be a dangerous player on Saturday.

In five games, he has scored only 50 runs but has five wickets to his name. The player was detrimental in stopping Chennai Super Kings who were cruising towards the victory. Can he do it again on Saturday at Sheikh Zayed Stadium?

#3) Shivam Mavi

The young Indian speed sensation is bearing the fruits for Kolkata Knight Riders with his bowling performances. Though the player was injured for two successive seasons, the team management of KKR persisted with him and are enjoying the fruits in 2020. He has partnered Pat Cummins and has shouldered the new ball responsibility with the Australian giants.

Against the batting line-up of Kings XI Punjab which consists the likes of KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and Nicholas Pooran, Shivam Mavi has a big role to play. He will be one of the top three picks for KKR on Saturday.