KKR vs GT: Kolkata Knight Riders took a bold call by dropping Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje from their playing XI for the April 21 clash against Gujarat Titans at the iconic Eden Gardens. After a humiliating loss to Punjab Kings in their previous outing, the defending champions seemed determined to make a statement. In a bid to revive form and inject fresh energy, the management opted to replace the inconsistent Quinton with Afghanistan’s dynamic opener, Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
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KKR vs GT: Key Changes and Tactical Moves at Eden Gardens
Kolkata Knight Riders made some significant changes ahead of their clash against Gujarat Titans on April 21 at the iconic Eden Gardens. Following a disappointing loss to Punjab Kings, the defending champions decided to shake up their playing XI by dropping Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje. In their place, Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz and experienced all-rounder Moeen Ali were brought in—moves that appear both strategic and necessary.
The inclusion of Moeen Ali is a highly tactical decision, considering the Eden Gardens surface is expected to offer assistance to spinners. Moeen, who has had a decent run with KKR this season, not only strengthens the spin department but also adds depth with the bat—a quality the Ajinkya Rahane-led side values highly.
Youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi has been listed among the Impact Players and is likely to be subbed in for Vaibhav Arora during the second innings.
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Speaking at the toss, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane said:
We are going to bowl first. The surface looks slightly dry, so we’ll get a better idea of how it plays as we bowl. This has traditionally been a chasing ground. We had a good discussion after the last game. The boys are working hard, and while we’ve made a few mistakes, we’re staying positive. We’re at number seven on the table, and the entire team is motivated to climb higher. I’m confident in our middle-order—even though 5, 6, 7 can be tricky, when it clicks, it looks really strong. A couple of changes today: Gurbaz and Moeen Ali come in.
On the other hand, Gujarat Titans have included Washington Sundar in their playing XI. The spin-friendly surface prompted this call, as Sundar has shown promise in limited appearances. Despite his decent performances, he has not been a regular feature, making this a crucial opportunity for the all-rounder to make an impact.
Playing XIs:
Gujarat Titans:
Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan, Rashid Khan, R. Sai Kishore, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj.
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Moeen Ali, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy.
