IPL 2021: Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals Betting Tips

IPL 2021: Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals – Preview and Prediction. Every match of the IPL we will provide betting tips. Also, have a listen to the Bet Central Podcast below.

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Betting Preview

The 54^th match of this season’s IPL will see Kolkata Knight Riders take on Rajasthan Royals at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. KKR have won 6 of their 13 matches so far, and are currently in 4th spot in the standings. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals have managed to win 5 of their 13 matches and are in 8th place in the standings.

The scenarios for KKR in this match are pretty simple; victory over the Royals will almost assure them of qualifying due to a significant Net Run Rate advantage over Mumbai Indians. If they lose here, then Mumbai will only need to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday to claim the coveted 4th place.

With wins in four of their six matches in the UAE, the Knight Riders have relied on a basic, but reliable way to achieve their recent victories: restrict the opposition from scoring. Of those four wins, all have been produced by keeping their opponent to a total of under 160, while their two losses were both results of the opposition going over that number.

Venkatesh Iyer has been a revelation for the Knight Riders in the ongoing edition of the IPL. In six matches, the left-handed batter has already racked up 201 runs at an average of 40.20 and a strike rate of 134. Although he failed to score against the Sunrisers, he is more than capable of making up for it against the Royals, not to forget that he is more than handy with the ball.

The end of the season can’t come quickly enough for Rajasthan after producing the second-lowest 20-over total in IPL history. After ending their twenty overs on 90/9 against Mumbai on Tuesday, in which eight batsmen went at a strike rate under 100, it seems the toil of the long, hard season (including four defeats in their last five matches) is starting to catch up on their inexperienced squad.

Individual milestones may in fact be the team’s best source of motivation. Mustafizur Rahman needs three wickets to tie his best ever IPL season. Sanju Samson needs 17 runs to reach 500 runs for the first time in his career while Chris Morris needs one wicket to register his most wickets in an IPL season.

This is an important match for KKR and with Andre Russell and Lockie Ferguson expected to be available, I am backing Brendon McCullum’s team to win this encounter.

Stat Attack

KKR have won six of the last eight H2Hs.

Rajasthan win 62% of matches at neutral venues when batting first.

Yashasvi Jaiswal has passed 30 runs on six occasions this year, of which, five went at a strike rate over 135.00. His six innings less than 30 all had a strike rate under 135.00.

Shubman Gill’s average at Sharjah Cricket Ground (37.25) is his best at any IPL venue.

Sanju Samson was dismissed by Shivam Mavi in three of four innings for just 15 runs (average 5.00).

Players To Watch

All but one of Eoin Morgan’s (KKR) past 20 IPL dismissals have been a result of being caught. He will be desperate to record a double-digit score for the first time in this UAE leg. Meanwhile, Shakib Al Hasan can be a game-changer, especially in the slow pitches of Sharjah.

Best Bets

Suggested Bet: KKR to win 1.52

Suggested Bet: V Iyer to be KKR’s top batsman 4.00

Suggested Bet: Highest individual score to be under 66.5 (1.71)