IPL 2016, KXIP vs KKR Playing 11: List of Probable XIs for Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders

One can expect a cracker of a game when two in-form teams square off against each other. The two teams here are Kolkata Knight riders and Kings XI Punjab and the venue is Mohali. KKR registered a comfortable win against the Sunrisers at the latter's home ground and Kings XI Punjab utilised their home advantage to upset the Supergiants convincingly in this season of the IPL.

It will be interesting to see whether the two teams will tinker with their combination and try out some new options.The track should be good for batting and Mohali usually has the reputation of producing very good sporting wickets. It should be an excellent contest between bat and ball. Lets have a look at the probable XI of both teams then.

KKR batting department

Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir will look to do what they have been doing for ages in that purple and gold jersey. One can expect a partnership of 50 plus from them every time they step into the field. Expect the likes of Manish Pandey and Shakib to get going straightaway and a total of 100 is expected in 14 overs with a loss of may be 3 wickets.

Yusuf Pathan and Andre Russell can go bang-bang and take the score to 165 and above. They also have the cushion of quality lower order batsmen in Suryakumar Yadav and Piyush Chawla.

KKR bowling department

The new ball attack comprising of the slippery Umesh Yadav and the giraffe Morne Morkel would love to pick the wickets of the in-form Manan Vohra and Murali Vijay early in the innings. Sunil Narine, Shakib and Piyush Chawla can then team up together and choke the opposition with some intelligent spin bowling. Narine vs Maxwell and Morkel vs Miller will be the two contests to look forward to.

KKR Playing 11(likely)

Robin Uthappa(wk), Gautam Gambhir(C), Manish Pandey, Andre Russell, Shakib Al Hasan, Yusuf Pathan, Suryakumar Yadav, Piyush Chawla, Morne Morkel, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav

KXIP batting department

Murali Vijay and Manan Vohra would simply want to repeat what they did against the Supergiants. They would like to string a massive opening partnership together and lay a foundation for the double Miller and Maxwell. Shaun Marsh has not been amongst the runs but expect him to get another opportunity.

Even the skipper Miller has been out of touch. Maxwell got a quick-fire 30 in the last game. It's imperative for the likes of Marsh and Miller to fire in this game as there is a lot of overdependence on their openers. The 'keeper Saha and Axar Patel would also like to contribute lower down the order and bat according to the demands of the situation.

KXIP bowling department

Kyle Abbott is the pace spearhead with the Indian duo of Sandeep Sharma and Mohit Sharma for the company. Mohit Sharma was the pick of the bowlers in their last game against the Supergiants. He picked up 3 wickets and Sandeep Sharma complimented him well by picking up a couple of wickets. The spin twins Axar Patel and Pardip Sahu were expensive in the last game and they need to pull their socks up in this game.

KXIP Playing 11(likely):

Murali Vijay, Manan Vohra, Shaun Marsh, David Miller(C), Glenn Maxwell, Wriddhiman Saha(wk), Axar Patel, Mohit Sharma, P Sahu, Kyle Abbott, Sandeep Sharma