Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in game 42 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The game takes place at the legendary Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Notable changes were made to KKR’s starting lineup for this match, notably the absence of an experienced fast bowler Mitchell Starc.
Reason for Mitchell Starc’s absence
Punjab captain Sam Curran won the toss and decided to start first. Punjab was also without its regular captain Shikhar Dhawan. Meanwhile, KKR captain Shreyas Iyer revealed the reason that led to Starc being left out of the final XI.
Iyer revealed that Starc sustained a cut on his finger in the last match and hence he could not take part in the clash against Punjab. Iyer also pointed out that one of the hallmarks of KKR’s campaign this season has been their ability to adapt to challenges and thrive in the face of adversity. With different players stepping up at different times, KKR have showcased a wealth of talent that bodes well for the rest of the tournament.
Sri Lanka’s star replaces Starc
Starc, known for his deadly pace and ability to hit the ball in both directions, has not lost his influence in the current 17th season of the cash-rich league. Still, his absence raised questions about how KKR will deal with this setback and who will fill the void left by the Australian speedster.
In his place, the Sri Lankan pacer Dushmantha Chameera has been tasked with taking up the responsibility of leading the pace attack for KKR. Known for his raw pace and ability to generate momentum on even the most docile of surfaces, Chameera brings a different dimension to KKR’s bowling line-up.
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“We had different players performing at different times, that’s what I’m excited about this season. Starcy sustained a cut on his finger in the last game, Dushmantha Chameera replaces him. I need a great start and then turn it into a big success hoping to maintain the same form and momentum.” Iyer said while throwing.
Playing XIs of both teams:
Kolkata Knight Riders: Philip Salt (week), Sunil Narine, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Shreyas Iyer (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Dushmantha Chameera, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana.
Impact Subs: Suyash Sharma, Anukul Roy, Manish Pandey, Vaibhav Arora, Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Punjab Kings: Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran (c), Rilee Rossouw, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
Impact Subs: Prabhsimran Singh, Rishi Dhawan, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Shivam Singh, Prince Choudhary