PBKS vs KKR, IPL 2023: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) won the toss and opted to bowl first against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Saturday. Both the sides are being led by new captains. While Shikhar Dhawan is leading hosts Punjab, Nitish Rana is captaining KKR.
Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurabaz make IPL debut with KKR
Justifying his decision to bowl first, Rana said that there would be moisture in the pitch as it rained in the last two days. KKR have named Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Tim Southee and Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurabaj as their four overseas players.
Wicketkeeper-batter Gurbaz has featured in 124 T20I matches and scored 3104 runs at a strike rate of 150.24. In the 41 T201s, the 21-year-old has played for Afghanistan, he has scored 1019 runs at an average of 134.25.
Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza make IPL debut with PBKS
Punjab, on the other hand, have named Sam Curran, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Sikandar Raza and Nathan Ellis as their four overseas players for the match. Dhawan admitted that Punjab would have opted to field first as well. However, the southpaw added that his "balanced side" was comfortable batting first as well.
Raza, the 36-year-old veteran all-rounder has played 172 T20 matches and scored 3346. He has also picked 87 wickets with his off-spin bowling.
PBKS Playing 11: Shikhar Dhawan(c), Prabhsimran Singh(w), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma, Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Nathan Ellis, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
KKR Playing 11: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Mandeep Singh, Nitish Rana(c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Anukul Roy, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy