IPL 2023, PBKS vs KKR: It’s Sam Curran vs Andre Russell at Mohali in the battle of all-rounders

Here are key battles that would decide the fate of the match

𝐒𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐛: Season 2⃣ 😍

Stay tuned, ASLI PICTURE ABHI BAAKI HAI!@CurranSM | #SaddaPunjab #TATAIPL #PunjabKings pic.twitter.com/JDGPu1FzVv

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) March 31, 2023

Curran vs Russell

Sam Curran has become a phenomenon in the England team over the last few months, culminating in him being named player of the match and of the T20 World Cup after they beat Pakistan in the final, and it turned out he had no intention of stopping. He became the most expensive player in IPL history when Punjab Kings roped in the all-rounder for Rs 18.50 crore at the IPL 2023 mini-auction. Curran’s bowling speed of 80mph might be viewed as cannon fodder. However, the all-rounder is known to be street smarts and feisty approach towards the game always keeps him in the game.

This is Curran’s second stint with the franchise after making his IPL debut for the Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2019. He took 10 wickets and scored 95 runs in nine matches that season. In 2019, for all the obvious talent, he was still all promise, all clear blue sky. In 2023, he is a force to reckon with, and there’s clearly no ceiling for him.

On the other hand, Andre Russell is a freak. He can turn the match away in a couple of overs, both with his bat and ball. His six-hitting prowess has made him an invaluable asset across franchise cricket. But how can one forget his freakish spell of 5/15 from his two-over burst against Mumbai Indians in 2021.

However, because of his dodgy knees, the Caribbean all-rounder has not been at his best in the past couple of seasons. He has been at his best only in bits and pieces and would be eager to live up to his lofty reputation in this season for KKR.

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘰 🎵🎶#AmiKKR #KKR #TATAIPL2023 pic.twitter.com/sOLHn2kT10

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 31, 2023

Onus on Jagadeesan and Prabshimran to prove their mettle

N Jagadeesan never got that longer rope at CSK. He played only seven matches for the franchise before being released. The 27-year-old lit up the domestic season, scoring a record-breaking five-back-to-back List A centuries during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and has carried that form into the Ranji Trophy. In an unsettled top-order of the KKR, the Tamil Nadu opener might get a longer rope.

Jonny Bairstow won’t be taking part in this year’s IPL as he continues to recover from that broken leg sustained in a freak accident while playing golf. That means an opportunity to open for 22-year-old Prabhsimran Singh, who will also take the gloves. In the four seasons with the Kings, Prabhsimran has played only six matches. However, his T20 career strike rate is a healthy 137.94 from 41 matches, including nine fifties to go with a century.

Venue stats

In 55 matches played here in the IPL, 31 were won by the side batting second, so chasing should be the way to go.

Pitch Report

The average first innings score is 165 so anything less than that, and one could expect the chaser to be favourites at the break. Both sides are better suited to chase anyway.

PBKS vs KKR Predicted XI

PBKS XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Prabhsimran Singh, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Sikandar Raza, Jitesh Sharma, Sharukh Khan, Sam Curran, Rahul Chahar, Nathan Ellis, Arshdeep Singh, Vidwath Kaverappa.

KKR XI: Venkatesh Iyer, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Nitish Rana, N Jagadeesan, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakarathaty.