KOL vs RR Dream11 prediction, IPL 2023: Fantasy Suggestions, Predicted Playing 11, impact substitute options

KOL vs RR Dream11 prediction: Kolkata Knight Riders will host Rajasthan Royals in match 55 of IPL 2023 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday. The match will start at 7:30 PM after the toss at 7 PM IST.

Both the franchises are locked on 10 points after playing 11 games each and need the win to put themselves in the race for the playoffs with Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, and Punjab Kings also either tied on 10 points or just two points ahead.

As far as head-to-head is concerned, Kolkata lead 14-12 with both franchises facing off for the first time this season. Knight Riders also have winning momentum on their side with consecutive victories while Sanju Samson's Royals lost three successive games.

KOL vs RR injury update

KOL injury update Umesh Yadav is available for selection after missing matches since April 26. Venkatesh Iyer might not play the game after struggling with his ankle in the last game.

KOL key players Jason Roy, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh have been in good form this season while Andre Russell has been finishing the innings off well too. The Caribbean also won the man of the match in the last game.

Among bowlers, Varun Chakravarthy has been the star performer with 17 wickets, including three wickets in the last game. His understudy Suyash Sharma has been bowling well too with another good spell in the win against PBKS. Young pacer Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora have made a good case for themselves by keeping themselves among wickets.

Out of form Sunil Narine's form remains questionable as he took just a wicket in seven games. Likes of Umesh, Lockie Ferguson have struggled to perform and have lost their place in the line-up. Batter Venkatesh

RR injury update Devdutt Padikkal and Trent Boult missed the last game as skipper Sanju Samson mentioned injuries as the reason during the toss in the last game.

RR key players RR top order Jos Buttler Sanju Samson, and Yashashvi Jaiswal have been in good form this season. Joe Root played the last game in place of Padikkal but didn't get to bat. Dhruv Jurel has become an important finisher for the team with Shimron Hetmyer's form dipping.

Among bowlers, the spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and R Ashwin are leading the charge with 17 and 14 wickets respectively. Chahal also took four wickets in the last game. Sandeep Sharma is the go-to death bowler for RR but has struggled to pick enough wickets.

Out of form Shimron Hetmyer, and Riyan Parag are out of form with the bat while Jason Holder has lost his place in the line-up after a poor bowling show.

KOL vs RR predicted playing 11 and impact sub options

KOL predicted playing 11 Jason Roy, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana (c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, Shardul Thakur, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy

KOL predicted Impact sub Venkatesh Iyer and Suyash Sharma are often used as impact substitute options while the likes of Anukul Roy is used sometimes as well.

KOL bench Suyash Sharma, Mandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Tim Southee, Kulwant Khejroliya, Lockie Ferguson, Aarya Desai, Jason Roy, Umesh Yadav

RR predicted playing 11 Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Jos Buttler, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Murugan Ashwin, Kuldip Yadav, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal

RR impact sub options Dhruv Jurel is often used as impact substitute in place of extra bowlers in the line-up in Kuldeep Sen, Navdeep Saini among others. Obed McCoy was used as an impact sub in the last game as well.

RR bench Donavon Ferreira, Riyan Parag, Kuldeep Sen, Adam Zampa, Navdeep Saini, Akash Vasisht, KC Cariappa, Obed McCoy, KM Asif, Abdul Basith, Kunal Singh Rathore, Jason Holder

KOL vs RR pitch report

The Eden Gardens has been known to be batting-friendly, but has provided a little assistance for pacers at the start of play and slower bowlers as the game progresses. However, the venue has seen four innings of eight end with totals over 200 so far this season.

The average score batting first in IPL at the venue is 160 overall, but this season the average score batting first is 212. The IPL record at the venue shows that teams batting second have had the most success. But three of the five matches in 2023 have seen the team defend win the matches.