Abu Dhabi, September 26: In match number 8 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, Kolkata Knight Riders will face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday (September 26), searching for first win in the tournament.
Dinesh Karthik-led Knight Riders were beaten by Mumbai Indians while the David Warners' Sunrisers went down to Royal Challengers Bangalore in the opening encounter. Both the teams have some power stars who can play match-winning knocks for their side.
KKR, the two-time champions produced an underwhelming performance against defending champions Mumbai Indians. Since it is the beginning stages of the IPL 2020, they may not bring in large scale changes to the XI. However, they might just look to bring in Rinku Singh for Nikhil Naik. If Prasidh Krishna, the pacer, is fit then he could replace Sandeep Warrier. Pat Cummins has no immediate threat but he needs to step up or the KKR at some stage will have to think about bringing in Lockie Ferguson.
Sunrisers, on the other hand, collapsed brilliantly against the RCB from a winning position to concede a defeat. The defeat must have shocked them but they need to get their head around it and produce a better effort against the Knight Riders.
They might just reinforce their bowling as they have the option of replacing Sandeep Sharma and Thiru Natarajan with either Khaleel Ahmed, Siddharth Kaul or Basil Thampi. Virat Singh or Abdul Samad could be preferred over Priyam Garg. Jason Holder will come in as all-rounder for Mitchell Marsh, who has been ruled out of the IPL 2020.
Here MyKhel brings to you the match updates between KKR and SRH:
Dinesh Karthik: Always good to get on board. We have been working really hard. I think one of the advantages of having all-rounders and it is a privilege to use them whenever I can. The fact that we have been able to groom the youngsters is pleasing. It feels good to see the youngsters doing well. I want Gill to enjoy his journey in cricket. One duck doesn't make you a bad player. I need to probably up my game and get a few runs.
Eoin Morgan - Nice feeling to get a win under our belt. We were a bit rusty in our last game against MI, but we won this match with our bowlers, they did a great job restricting them. They put them on the back-foot and we knew we didn't have to put ourselves under pressure in the chase. Good bat swing, very languid style, magnificent to watch, I think he deserves all the success (when asked about Shubman Gill). The pitches have been a bit different, but with the nature of the heat, it should change considerably as the tournament wears on.
David Warner | Losing captain: I think I got my decision right. For us, our strength is death bowling. I thought it was actually a difficult wicket to accelerate on. I don't regret what I did at the beginning of the game and I stick by my decision. Cummins bowled Test match line and length. There was a little bit of movement. It got harder in the middle. We went four or five overs for 20 probably killed us a bit there. Extra 30 or 40 runs would have been great. We have to go harder at the top. Can't help if the bowlers are bowling right lines and lengths.
Done and Dusted! Morgan hits the winning boundary as KKR hammer SRH by 7 wickets and secure their first win in the tournament. Gill - 70 and Morgan - 42 remain unbeaten. Clinical performance from Dinesh Karthik led side.
SIX!! Morgan hits the slower one from Natarajan and dispatches it into the stands. KKR need 2 to win.
KKR reach 131/3 in 17 overs, they need 12 of 18 deliveries.
SIX!! Abhishek Sharma is brought into the attack and Shubman Gill hits him straight down the ground for a maximum.
Four! Morgan dispatches the final delivery from Rashid towards mid-wicket and gets a boundary. KKR reach 120/3 in 16 overs, they need 23 more.
SIX!! Excellent strike from Eoin Morgan as he clears Bhuvneshwar Kumar's delivery over extra-cover for a maximum. KKR - 113/3 in 15 overs.
100 comes up for KKR in the 14th over. They reach 102/3 and require 41 off 36 balls. The best part is they have wickets in hand and batsmen are set. SRH need wickets
FIFTY! Shubman Gill brings up his fifth IPL half-century with a boundary off Natarajan. He took 42 deliveries. Now he should win this game for his team and go unbeaten.
Attaboy Shubhman Gill. Terrific half century. Now to win the match for his side!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 26, 2020
After 12 overs, KKR reach 89/3. They are still 54 short of the target and have 48 deliveries in hand.
9 overs are gone and KKR have posted 67/3 on the board, they are still 76 short of the target with 66 balls in hand.
Four! Morgan lofts it over point and gets a boundary off Rashid.
End of the eighth over and KKR reach 60/3, they still need 83 from 72 deliveries.
Some more praise for Gill's talent.
How can one not enjoy watching #ShubhmanGill bat? Great timing, sparkling strokes
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 26, 2020
Rashid Khan comes into the attack and strikes immediately, traps Dinesh Karthik in front. KKR skipper departs for a duck and also wastes the DRS. KKR - 53/3 in 6.2 overs.
Back-to-back boundaries from Gill off Khaleel and 50 comes up for KKR. They reach 52/2 after 6 overs. Gill moves on to 24*.
Wicket! Nitish Rana 26 (13) edges Natarajan and Saha pouches it comfortably. KKR - 43/2 after 4.4 overs.
After 4 overs, KKR reach 38/1.
Four! Hat-trick of boundaries from Rana off Khaleel. The bowler is under big pressure.
Four! Brilliantly timed! Rana gets a boundary towards fine leg this time, result same.
Four! Short-pitched bouncer from Khaleel and Rana gets a thick edge. Ball races towards the third-man boundary.
Four! Nitish Rana gets off the mark in style with a brilliant cover drive on the off-side off Bhuvneshwar.
KKR reach 12/1 after 2 overs.
SIX!! Shubman Gill creates room and hammers Khaleel over long-on for a maximum.
Wicket! Khaleel Ahmad strikes in the first over. Sunil Narine (0) top-edges and Warner takes a fine catch. SRH get the first wicket. KKR - 6/1
Four! Bhuvneshwar bowls towards Gill's pad at leg stump and the batsman flicks it towards mid-wicket for a boundary. Supremely timed.
2nd innings! KKR begin their response in run chase. Shubman Gill and Sunil Narine open innings for KKR and Bhuvneshwar Kumar starts proceedings with the new ball for SRH.
End of innings! Sunrisers Hyderabad manage to post 142/4 in 20 overs. Disciplined bowling from Kolkata Knight Riders.