IPL 2024, DC vs KKR Match 47, Preview: Resurgent Delhi aim to continue ascent against second-placed Kolkata

A resurgent Delhi Capitals (DC) will be facing second-placed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on April 29 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. DC have bounced back emphatically in the season, winning four of their last five games after losing four from their firstfive games.

KKR, after starting out the season with three wins on the trot, are having a see-saw moment with three losses and two wins in the last five games. Nonetheless, KKR have played two games less than DC and have same points - giving them a relatively pressure-free situation to play under.

Both the teams are reliant on their batting to win the games as evident by their last few outings. While KKR have gone past 220 in each of their last three innings, DC have done it twice with one being a 199-run score.

The openers from each side, Sunil Narine for KKR and Jake Fraser-McGurk for DC, have been in scintillating form this season. Narine, primarily a bowling all-rounder, has scored 357 runs in eight innings so far, while Fraser-McGurk, playing his first IPL, has smashed 247 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 237.50.

With their batting being almost equal in terms of hitting power, it'll probably come down to the bowlers and how well they can handle the pressure. The venue, Eden Gardens, has seen 200+ scores in eight of the last 10 innings and the batters have been extra brutal with scoring this season.

While KKR have a good mix of domestic and foreign bowlers, DC have Kuldeep Yadav and Khaleel Ahmed who have a better past record against current KKR top order. However, in their last meeting in the IPL 2024, KKR had tore apart DC for 272/7 in 20 overs - third highest score in history of the league.

DC, who are playing their second match in three days, will be hoping to ride on the momentum to keep the playoff hopes alive.