Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Brendon McCullum lauded wicketkeeper batsman Sheldon Jackson for his ball-hitting abilities and hinted that he can get more chances to play for the side in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. <o:p></o:p>

The 35-year-old played the first two games of the tournament but had to make way for young fast bowler Shivam Mavi ahead of the game against Punjab Kings.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-ms-dhoni-completes-350-t20s-joins-rohit-sharma-in-elite-list-against-punjab-kings-468014" hreflang="en">Dhoni completes 350 T20s, joins Rohit in elite list against Punjab Kings</a>

"Sheldon continues to get better and better. He is 35, but you wouldn’t know. His growth in the last two years has been significant. He has a good ball-striking ability. And very few players hit the ball as far as he does, he is not too far, if not the same, behind Andre Russell when he is striking the ball.” <o:p></o:p>

“I am sure with more opportunities, we will see a performance from Sheldon," McCullum told the reports according to a report on The Sportstar.<o:p></o:p>

Sheldon has impressed a lot of people with his work behind the stumps and against Royal Challengers Bangalore, he took three catches and showed fast hands to stump Shahbaz Ahmed.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-sprints-to-run-out-bhanuka-rajapaksa-with-a-stunning-effort-in-csk-vs-pbks-clash-watch-468023">MS Dhoni sprints to run out Rajapaksa with a stunning effort - WATCH</a>

McCullum went on to loosely compare Sheldon Jackson with MS Dhoni and explained that the wicketkeeper has an understanding of spin that helps him in improving his game.<o:p></o:p>

"The wicketkeeping skills have been superb. He has got an MS Dhoni sort of a feel about keeping, really fast hands, and an understanding of spin. He knows what the bowlers are doing. He is desperate to do well," said McCullum about Jackson’s wicketkeeping according to the report.<o:p></o:p>

Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Brendon McCullum lauded wicketkeeper batsman Sheldon Jackson for his ball-hitting abilities and hinted that he can get more chances to play for the side in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Brendon McCullum lauded wicketkeeper batsman Sheldon Jackson for his ball-hitting abilities and hinted that he can get more chances to play for the side in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The 35-year-old played the first two games of the tournament but had to make way for young fast bowler Shivam Mavi ahead of the game against Punjab Kings. Also read | Dhoni completes 350 T20s, joins Rohit in elite list against Punjab Kings "Sheldon continues to get better and better. He is 35, but you wouldn’t know. His growth in the last two years has been significant. He has a good ball-striking ability. And very few players hit the ball as far as he does, he is not too far, if not the same, behind Andre Russell when he is striking the ball.” “I am sure with more opportunities, we will see a performance from Sheldon," McCullum told the reports according to a report on The Sportstar. Sheldon has impressed a lot of people with his work behind the stumps and against Royal Challengers Bangalore, he took three catches and showed fast hands to stump Shahbaz Ahmed. Also read | MS Dhoni sprints to run out Rajapaksa with a stunning effort - WATCH McCullum went on to loosely compare Sheldon Jackson with MS Dhoni and explained that the wicketkeeper has an understanding of spin that helps him in improving his game. "The wicketkeeping skills have been superb. He has got an MS Dhoni sort of a feel about keeping, really fast hands, and an understanding of spin. He knows what the bowlers are doing. He is desperate to do well," said McCullum about Jackson’s wicketkeeping according to the report.

IPL 2022: Sheldon Jackson has got a MS Dhoni sort of a feel, says KKR head coach Brendon McCullum

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Umesh Yadav has made a stunning comeback in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Umesh has delivered consistent performances with the ball in KKR's first three matches of the season and is currently the leading wicket-taker of IPL 2022 with 8 wickets from three games so far.

Umesh, who had played only two matches in the last two seasons of IPL&nbsp;having been written off by many as a T20 bowler, has been absolutely sensational for KKR this year. The 34-year-old, who is also a regular for the Indian team in Tests, recently opened up on his journey to realising his dream of playing cricket for India.

It was not an easy journey for Umesh, who comes from a humble background. Umesh was born in Nagpur city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and his father used to work in coal mines. Opening up on the initial struggles in his cricketing career, Umesh said he comes from a place where dreaming about playing cricket is an expensive one for youngsters.

"From where I belong, there will be very few boys who believe that they could play for India. Playing and dreaming about cricket was expensive for them. Kit, bat, pad, shoes, etc. you just can't do it because you live in coal mines, your father goes to coal mines and does hard work. At that time I had never thought I would play for India as it was beyond my imagination," Umesh said in a video posted by KKR.

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Umesh, who made his debut for Team India in the year 2010, was the leading wicket-taker for the Men in Blue in the 2015 ODI World Cup. Umesh picked up 18 wickets in the tournament to help India reach the semi-finals. However, he soon was dropped from the white-ball sides and was labelled a red-ball specialist by many.

Umesh said it was difficult for him to come to terms with the fact that he was dropped from India's white-ball teams despite his splendid performances during the 2015 ODI World Cup. The 34-year-old also struggled in the IPL over the last couple of years but has bounced back well this year.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/heartbreaking-to-seee-the-despair-of-people-kumar-sangakkara-on-sri-lankas-economic-crisis-467959">Heartbreaking to seee the despair of people: Kumar Sangakkara on Sri Lanka's economic crisis</a>

"After we won the title (with KKR) in 2014, the next big moment for me was the 2015 World Cup. The kind of wickets that I got, I was the highest wicket-taker for India. So the real journey in white-ball cricket started from there," said Umesh.

"I feel bad when there was a downfall in my career and when I was in and out of the Indian white-ball team. People labelled me as someone who is not a white-ball bowler. I felt bad that how so much changed suddenly, at one point I was India's leading wicket-taker of the 2015 World Cup. But it's okay, it's life, it goes on," he added.

&nbsp;

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Umesh Yadav has made a stunning comeback in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Umesh has delivered consistent performances with the ball in KKR's first three matches of the season and is currently the leading wicket-taker of IPL 2022 with 8 wickets from three games so far.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Umesh Yadav has made a stunning comeback in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Umesh has delivered consistent performances with the ball in KKR's first three matches of the season and is currently the leading wicket-taker of IPL 2022 with 8 wickets from three games so far. Umesh, who had played only two matches in the last two seasons of IPL having been written off by many as a T20 bowler, has been absolutely sensational for KKR this year. The 34-year-old, who is also a regular for the Indian team in Tests, recently opened up on his journey to realising his dream of playing cricket for India. It was not an easy journey for Umesh, who comes from a humble background. Umesh was born in Nagpur city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and his father used to work in coal mines. Opening up on the initial struggles in his cricketing career, Umesh said he comes from a place where dreaming about playing cricket is an expensive one for youngsters. "From where I belong, there will be very few boys who believe that they could play for India. Playing and dreaming about cricket was expensive for them. Kit, bat, pad, shoes, etc. you just can't do it because you live in coal mines, your father goes to coal mines and does hard work. At that time I had never thought I would play for India as it was beyond my imagination," Umesh said in a video posted by KKR. × Also Read: 'He is not finished': Mohammad Kaif makes big prediction about MS Dhoni's IPL future Umesh, who made his debut for Team India in the year 2010, was the leading wicket-taker for the Men in Blue in the 2015 ODI World Cup. Umesh picked up 18 wickets in the tournament to help India reach the semi-finals. However, he soon was dropped from the white-ball sides and was labelled a red-ball specialist by many. Umesh said it was difficult for him to come to terms with the fact that he was dropped from India's white-ball teams despite his splendid performances during the 2015 ODI World Cup. The 34-year-old also struggled in the IPL over the last couple of years but has bounced back well this year. Also Read: Heartbreaking to seee the despair of people: Kumar Sangakkara on Sri Lanka's economic crisis "After we won the title (with KKR) in 2014, the next big moment for me was the 2015 World Cup. The kind of wickets that I got, I was the highest wicket-taker for India. So the real journey in white-ball cricket started from there," said Umesh. "I feel bad when there was a downfall in my career and when I was in and out of the Indian white-ball team. People labelled me as someone who is not a white-ball bowler. I felt bad that how so much changed suddenly, at one point I was India's leading wicket-taker of the 2015 World Cup. But it's okay, it's life, it goes on," he added.

Playing and dreaming about cricket expensive for someone who lived in coal mines: KKR pacer Umesh Yadav

Shreyas Iyer has had a great start to his stint as the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. KKR have won two of their first three matches so far this season and are currently sitting on the top of the points table with four points. Iyer has been exceptional as a leader but is yet to fire with the bat.

On Friday, KKR defeated Punjab Kings by six wickets to bag their second win of the season after successfully chasing down the target of 138 runs with 33 balls to spare. However, Iyer once again failed to make a significant contribution as he was dismissed on 26 off 15 balls.

After getting dismissed trying to go big against spinner Wanindu Hasaranga in KKR's last game against RCB, Iyer once again fell prey to spin in the game against Punjab. Iyer tried to take on leg-spinner Rahul Chahar and was caught by Kagiso Rabada on 26 off 15 balls against Punjab on Friday.

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Former India cricketer and notable commentator Aakash Chopra has issued a warning to Iyer amid his struggles against spin and said the KKR skipper needs to 'get his act together'. Chopra said Iyer cannot get out trying to play shots like the one he played against Chahar on Friday.

"Shreyas Iyer seems to have an issue with leg-spinners. It looks at the ball and seems he wants to hit a six. Last match he got out to (Wanindu) Hasaranga. He's too good a player to play shots like these get out. Yes, Shreyas, you got to get your act together," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.

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Iyer has so far scored 59 runs in three matches for KKR and will be hoping to get a big score under his belt soon. While he has not yet fired with the bat, KKR have enjoyed a great start to the season under his captaincy and will be looking to make it three wins in five matches when they take on Mumbai Indians in their next game on Wednesday (April 06).

Shreyas Iyer has had a great start to his stint as the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. KKR have won two of their first three matches so far this season and are currently sitting on the top of the points table with four points.

Shreyas Iyer has had a great start to his stint as the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. KKR have won two of their first three matches so far this season and are currently sitting on the top of the points table with four points. Iyer has been exceptional as a leader but is yet to fire with the bat. On Friday, KKR defeated Punjab Kings by six wickets to bag their second win of the season after successfully chasing down the target of 138 runs with 33 balls to spare. However, Iyer once again failed to make a significant contribution as he was dismissed on 26 off 15 balls. After getting dismissed trying to go big against spinner Wanindu Hasaranga in KKR's last game against RCB, Iyer once again fell prey to spin in the game against Punjab. Iyer tried to take on leg-spinner Rahul Chahar and was caught by Kagiso Rabada on 26 off 15 balls against Punjab on Friday. Also Read: GT vs DC, IPL 2022 prediction: Who will win Gujarat Titans vs Delhi Capitals match today? Former India cricketer and notable commentator Aakash Chopra has issued a warning to Iyer amid his struggles against spin and said the KKR skipper needs to 'get his act together'. Chopra said Iyer cannot get out trying to play shots like the one he played against Chahar on Friday. "Shreyas Iyer seems to have an issue with leg-spinners. It looks at the ball and seems he wants to hit a six. Last match he got out to (Wanindu) Hasaranga. He's too good a player to play shots like these get out. Yes, Shreyas, you got to get your act together," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel. Also Read: Jos Buttler slams first century of IPL 2022 for Rajasthan Royals against Mumbai Indians Iyer has so far scored 59 runs in three matches for KKR and will be hoping to get a big score under his belt soon. While he has not yet fired with the bat, KKR have enjoyed a great start to the season under his captaincy and will be looking to make it three wins in five matches when they take on Mumbai Indians in their next game on Wednesday (April 06).

IPL 2022: 'Get your act together': Ex-India cricketer tells Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Shreyas Iyer

It has been a season of redemption for Umesh Yadav till now in the Indian Premier League. The India fast bowler was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders in the end stages of the mega auction and after playing just two games in last year’s tournament, he was not touted as a major threat.<o:p></o:p>

However, the 34-year-old has performed brilliantly for KKR this season and with eight wickets to his name, he currently wears the purple cap as the leading wicket-taker in the competition. Umesh was the pick of the bowlers once again on Friday as he claimed four scalps against Punjab Kings.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-return-of-lungi-ngidi-delhi-capitals-predicted-xi-against-gujarat-titans-467650" hreflang="en">Return of Lungi Ngidi? Delhi Capitals predicted XI against Gujarat Titans</a>

The four-wicket haul meant that Umesh Yadav has taken 33 wickets against Punjab Kings in his IPL career – the most by any bowler against a single opponent. On Friday, he went past teammate Sunil Narine (32 against PBKS), Lasith Malinga (31 against Chennai Super Kings) and the tournament’s current leading all-time wicket taker Dwayne Bravo who has 31 wickets against Mumbai Indians.<o:p></o:p>

That was not the only record that Umesh claimed on Friday as he currently has the most number of ‘Player of the Match’ awards a single opposition. The fast bowler won his sixth POTM against Punjab Kings and went past ex-KKR all-rounder Yusuf Pathan who had 5 against Deccan Chargers.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-gujarat-titans-vs-delhi-capitals-head-to-head-record-trivia-stats-and-squads-467658" hreflang="en">IPL 2022, Gujarat Titans vs Delhi Capitals: Head-to-head, trivia and stats</a>

Umesh and fellow pace bowler Tim Southee were brilliant against Punjab Kings as they claimed a combined seven wickets to bundle out the opposition for 137. In reply, it was an Andre Russell show as the West Indies all-rounder slammed 70 off 31 deliveries to guide the team to victory.<o:p></o:p>

It has been a season of redemption for Umesh Yadav till now in the Indian Premier League. The India fast bowler was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders in the end stages of the mega auction and after playing just two games in last year’s tournament, he was not touted as a major threat.

It has been a season of redemption for Umesh Yadav till now in the Indian Premier League. The India fast bowler was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders in the end stages of the mega auction and after playing just two games in last year’s tournament, he was not touted as a major threat. However, the 34-year-old has performed brilliantly for KKR this season and with eight wickets to his name, he currently wears the purple cap as the leading wicket-taker in the competition. Umesh was the pick of the bowlers once again on Friday as he claimed four scalps against Punjab Kings. Also read | Return of Lungi Ngidi? Delhi Capitals predicted XI against Gujarat Titans The four-wicket haul meant that Umesh Yadav has taken 33 wickets against Punjab Kings in his IPL career – the most by any bowler against a single opponent. On Friday, he went past teammate Sunil Narine (32 against PBKS), Lasith Malinga (31 against Chennai Super Kings) and the tournament’s current leading all-time wicket taker Dwayne Bravo who has 31 wickets against Mumbai Indians. That was not the only record that Umesh claimed on Friday as he currently has the most number of ‘Player of the Match’ awards a single opposition. The fast bowler won his sixth POTM against Punjab Kings and went past ex-KKR all-rounder Yusuf Pathan who had 5 against Deccan Chargers. Also read | IPL 2022, Gujarat Titans vs Delhi Capitals: Head-to-head, trivia and stats Umesh and fellow pace bowler Tim Southee were brilliant against Punjab Kings as they claimed a combined seven wickets to bundle out the opposition for 137. In reply, it was an Andre Russell show as the West Indies all-rounder slammed 70 off 31 deliveries to guide the team to victory.

IPL 2022: Umesh Yadav breaks two impressive records with four-wicket haul against Punjab Kings

Umesh Yadav continued his dream run with a four-wicket haul before Andre Russell returned to his brutal best to fire Kolkata Knight Riders to an easy six-wicket win over Punjab Kings here on Friday.

Umesh (4/23), coming into the season with just two games over two IPL seasons and going unsold initially at the auction, produced career-best T20 figures to help KKR dismiss Punjab for a below par 137 in 18.2 overs.

It was supposed to be a straight forward chase but Rahul Chahar raised Punjab's hopes with a double wicket maiden to reduced KKR to 51 for four.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-kolkata-knight-riders-tim-southee-pulls-off-sensational-catch-against-punjab-kings-watch-467517">IPL 2022: Tim Southee pulls off sensational catch against Punjab Kings - WATCH</a>

However, Russell (70 not out off 31 balls) came out in the middle and changed the game with his barrage of sixes, eight in total, to make it a cakewalk in just 14.3 overs.

He smashed three sixes off Odean Smith in an over that went for 30 runs. No rope is long enough when Russell is going all guns blazing and he was in that kind of zone on Friday night.

The Jamaican dasher fittingly ended the game with a couple of sixes off Liam Livingtsone's friendly leg-breaks. It was KKR's second win in three games while Punjab suffered their first loss of the season after the win over RCB.

Earlier, KKR bowlers stifled a power-laden Punjab Kings batting line-up. With heavy dew setting in later half of the games, fielding first has become a no-brainer this IPL and KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer called it right at the toss.

Punjab, which had successfully chased 200 plus in their opening game, enjoyed a good powerplay that yielded 62 for 3 in six overs. Veteran pacer Umesh, who has been proving his critics wrong this season., once again provided the breakthrough early in the game, removing opposition skipper Mayank Agarwal, who was found plumb in front after missing a rather straight and full delivery in the first over of the match.

Sri Lankan Bhanuka Rajapaksa (31 off 9) who had produced a match-winning knock in the first game, looked in sensational touch at the Wankhede Stadium.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-chennai-super-kings-pacer-deepak-chahar-provides-update-on-indian-premier-league-return-467512" hreflang="en">CSK fast bowler Deepak Chahar provides update on IPL 2022 return</a>

In his brief stay in the middle, the top-order batter hammered three fours and as many sixes, mostly towards the mid-wicket region, leaving the spectators in awe. His breathtaking effort was perhaps the lone bright in an otherwise underwhelming innings. Iyer impressed with his leadership.

He brought back Umesh in the middle overs to ensure there was no fightback from Punjab. He also employed a slip in the 15th over and was rewarded for that with the wicket of Rahul Chahar.

His new ball partner Tim Southee and KKR's retained spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine were also too good for the Punjab batters. Livingstone (19 off 16) could convert his start while India U-19 star Raj Angad Bawa found the going tough for the second game in a row. Kagisa Rabada (25 off 16), playing his first game of the seasons, saved Punjab the blushes by getting much needed boundaries to take the total close to 140.

Umesh Yadav continued his dream run with a four-wicket haul before Andre Russell returned to his brutal best to fire Kolkata Knight Riders to an easy six-wicket win over Punjab Kings here on Friday.

Umesh Yadav continued his dream run with a four-wicket haul before Andre Russell returned to his brutal best to fire Kolkata Knight Riders to an easy six-wicket win over Punjab Kings here on Friday. Umesh (4/23), coming into the season with just two games over two IPL seasons and going unsold initially at the auction, produced career-best T20 figures to help KKR dismiss Punjab for a below par 137 in 18.2 overs. It was supposed to be a straight forward chase but Rahul Chahar raised Punjab's hopes with a double wicket maiden to reduced KKR to 51 for four. Also read | IPL 2022: Tim Southee pulls off sensational catch against Punjab Kings - WATCH However, Russell (70 not out off 31 balls) came out in the middle and changed the game with his barrage of sixes, eight in total, to make it a cakewalk in just 14.3 overs. He smashed three sixes off Odean Smith in an over that went for 30 runs. No rope is long enough when Russell is going all guns blazing and he was in that kind of zone on Friday night. The Jamaican dasher fittingly ended the game with a couple of sixes off Liam Livingtsone's friendly leg-breaks. It was KKR's second win in three games while Punjab suffered their first loss of the season after the win over RCB. Earlier, KKR bowlers stifled a power-laden Punjab Kings batting line-up. With heavy dew setting in later half of the games, fielding first has become a no-brainer this IPL and KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer called it right at the toss. Punjab, which had successfully chased 200 plus in their opening game, enjoyed a good powerplay that yielded 62 for 3 in six overs. Veteran pacer Umesh, who has been proving his critics wrong this season., once again provided the breakthrough early in the game, removing opposition skipper Mayank Agarwal, who was found plumb in front after missing a rather straight and full delivery in the first over of the match. Sri Lankan Bhanuka Rajapaksa (31 off 9) who had produced a match-winning knock in the first game, looked in sensational touch at the Wankhede Stadium. Also read | CSK fast bowler Deepak Chahar provides update on IPL 2022 return In his brief stay in the middle, the top-order batter hammered three fours and as many sixes, mostly towards the mid-wicket region, leaving the spectators in awe. His breathtaking effort was perhaps the lone bright in an otherwise underwhelming innings. Iyer impressed with his leadership. He brought back Umesh in the middle overs to ensure there was no fightback from Punjab. He also employed a slip in the 15th over and was rewarded for that with the wicket of Rahul Chahar. His new ball partner Tim Southee and KKR's retained spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine were also too good for the Punjab batters. Livingstone (19 off 16) could convert his start while India U-19 star Raj Angad Bawa found the going tough for the second game in a row. Kagisa Rabada (25 off 16), playing his first game of the seasons, saved Punjab the blushes by getting much needed boundaries to take the total close to 140.

IPL 2022: Umesh Yadav, Andre Russell guide Kolkata Knight Riders to victory over Punjab Kings

IPL 2022: Kolkata Knight Riders beat Punjab Kings in comprehensive manner

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan said that Shreyas Iyer`s journey as a captain has been remarkable and that Kolkata Knight Riders` future is bright under the leadership of this dynamic Indian cricketer. Iyer was appointed the captain of KKR ahead of IPL 2022 and he impressed everyone with the way he led the side so far. After an opening victory, Kolkata Knight Riders succumbed to a six-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the second match of this season, in which their batting failed to click at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings (PBKS) started their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 campaign with a five-wicket victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the DY Patil Stadium last Sunday. Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan said during an episode of `Cricket Live` on Star Sports: "Shreyas Iyer is a brilliant captain. Remember, he picked up captaincy midway through the season like Rohit Sharma who was named Mumbai Indians` captain halfway through the season in IPL 2013. For Delhi Capitals, Shreyas started well under the supervision of coach Ricky Ponting and he kept improving his decision-making skills in his first stint as captain."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kkr-vs-pbks-ipl-2022-prediction-today-who-will-win-kolkata-knight-riders-vs-punjab-kings-match-467369">KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings match?</a>

"But his captaincy moves are coming to the fore prominently in this season and we will talk more about it as the tournament progresses. He`s a players` captain. He backs the players at every turn and which is a good sign of a leader. The future of Kolkata is bright under his supervision and we`ve seen glimpses of it in the first couple of games," Irfan&nbsp;added.

In the next round of fixtures, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will clash with Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Friday here at the Wankhede Stadium.

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan said that Shreyas Iyer`s journey as a captain has been remarkable and that Kolkata Knight Riders` future is bright under the leadership of this dynamic Indian cricketer.

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan said that Shreyas Iyer`s journey as a captain has been remarkable and that Kolkata Knight Riders` future is bright under the leadership of this dynamic Indian cricketer. Iyer was appointed the captain of KKR ahead of IPL 2022 and he impressed everyone with the way he led the side so far. After an opening victory, Kolkata Knight Riders succumbed to a six-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the second match of this season, in which their batting failed to click at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai last Wednesday. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings (PBKS) started their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 campaign with a five-wicket victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the DY Patil Stadium last Sunday. Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan said during an episode of `Cricket Live` on Star Sports: "Shreyas Iyer is a brilliant captain. Remember, he picked up captaincy midway through the season like Rohit Sharma who was named Mumbai Indians` captain halfway through the season in IPL 2013. For Delhi Capitals, Shreyas started well under the supervision of coach Ricky Ponting and he kept improving his decision-making skills in his first stint as captain." ALSO READ | KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings match? "But his captaincy moves are coming to the fore prominently in this season and we will talk more about it as the tournament progresses. He`s a players` captain. He backs the players at every turn and which is a good sign of a leader. The future of Kolkata is bright under his supervision and we`ve seen glimpses of it in the first couple of games," Irfan added. In the next round of fixtures, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will clash with Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Friday here at the Wankhede Stadium.

IPL 2022: Future of KKR is bright under Shreyas Iyer's captaincy, says former all-rounder Irfan Pathan

It will be a tough test for Kolkata Knight Riders as they look to get back to winning ways against Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Friday.

After a dominant win against defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the season opener, the Shreyas Iyer-led side slumped to a loss against Royal Challengers Bangalore after posting the lowest total in IPL 2022 till now.<o:p></o:p>

With Pat Cummins and Aaron Finch still unavailable due to their commitments with the Australia cricket team, there are not many changes expected in the playing XI for Kolkata Knight Riders.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-kolkata-knight-riders-vs-punjab-kings-head-to-head-record-trivia-stats-and-squads-467393" hreflang="en">IPL 2022: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings - Head-to-head record, trivia, stats and squads</a>

Ajinkya Rahane is expected to open the batting with Venkatesh Iyer with Nitish Rana at No. 3. <o:p></o:p>

Shreyas Iyer can go down one position in the batting line-up to provide more stability to the middle order after the collapse against RCB. Sam Billings will continue to be the explosive choice in the middle order with Sheldon Jackson playing as the wicketkeeper after pulling off brilliant dismissals.<o:p></o:p>

Andre Russell was the top scorer for KKR but he injured himself while diving on the field and he was not able to bowl his full quota of overs. The West Indies all-rounder is expected to feature in the playing XI but in his absence, KKR can opt for the experience of Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kkr-vs-pbks-ipl-2022-prediction-today-who-will-win-kolkata-knight-riders-vs-punjab-kings-match-467369" hreflang="en">KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings match?</a>

In the bowling department, Umesh Yadav has been a revelation in the first two matches and he will be partnering Tim Southee while Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarty will play as the spin duo.<o:p></o:p>

Kolkata Knight Riders predicted XI: Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer, Sam Billings, Sheldon Jackson, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy<o:p></o:p>

It will be a tough test for Kolkata Knight Riders as they look to get back to winning ways against Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Friday.

It will be a tough test for Kolkata Knight Riders as they look to get back to winning ways against Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Friday. After a dominant win against defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the season opener, the Shreyas Iyer-led side slumped to a loss against Royal Challengers Bangalore after posting the lowest total in IPL 2022 till now. With Pat Cummins and Aaron Finch still unavailable due to their commitments with the Australia cricket team, there are not many changes expected in the playing XI for Kolkata Knight Riders. Also read | IPL 2022: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings - Head-to-head record, trivia, stats and squads Ajinkya Rahane is expected to open the batting with Venkatesh Iyer with Nitish Rana at No. 3. Shreyas Iyer can go down one position in the batting line-up to provide more stability to the middle order after the collapse against RCB. Sam Billings will continue to be the explosive choice in the middle order with Sheldon Jackson playing as the wicketkeeper after pulling off brilliant dismissals. Andre Russell was the top scorer for KKR but he injured himself while diving on the field and he was not able to bowl his full quota of overs. The West Indies all-rounder is expected to feature in the playing XI but in his absence, KKR can opt for the experience of Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi. Also read | KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings match? In the bowling department, Umesh Yadav has been a revelation in the first two matches and he will be partnering Tim Southee while Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarty will play as the spin duo. Kolkata Knight Riders predicted XI: Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer, Sam Billings, Sheldon Jackson, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

IPL 2022: Will Andre Russell play? Kolkata Knight Riders predicted XI against Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings will be looking to continue their winning run while Kolkata Knight Riders will eye redemption as the two teams face each other in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Friday.<o:p></o:p>

Punjab Kings started their campaign with an impressive victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore as they chased down a total of 205 thanks to good batting performances from the top order. Shikhar Dhawan and Bhanuka Rajapaksha provided the perfect platform for the run chase as big-hitters Shah Rukh Khan and Odean Smith guided them to victory with some fireworks towards the end.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kkr-vs-pbks-ipl-2022-prediction-today-who-will-win-kolkata-knight-riders-vs-punjab-kings-match-467369" hreflang="en">KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings match?</a>

KKR, on the other hand, slumped to a defeat against RCB in their second game after beating defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the season opener. The bowlers performed well for KKR but a complete batting collapse saw the side posting the lowest total in IPL 2022 till now.<o:p></o:p>

Bowling was also a concern for Punjab as none of their bowlers looked in good form and they ended up conceding 12 wides along with other extras. However, the return of Kagiso Rabada will be a major boost to the side and he can be the answer to their bowling woes on Friday.<o:p></o:p>

Here is all you need to know about the IPL 2022 clash between KKR and Punjab Kings:<o:p></o:p>

Head-to-Head<o:p></o:p>

Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings have faced each other in 29 IPL matches till now with KKR winning 19 while Punjab Kings have won 10. The second significant clash between the two teams came in the final of the 2014 season where KKR were able to clinch their second IPL title.<o:p></o:p>

Stats<o:p></o:p>

The Wankhede Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for KKR who have won just two times in 12 matches at the venue. Coming to player battles, Punjab pacer Sandeep Sharma has dismissed Shreyas Iyer thrice in IPL but have never dismissed the KKR duo of Sunil Narine and Nitish Rana.<o:p></o:p>

Trivia<o:p></o:p>

Andre Russell has scored 60 runs against South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada from just 27 deliveries with Rabada dismissing him just once in IPL. This is not good news for Punjab Kings who will be banking on Rabada’s excellent record as a death bowler – 45 wickets in 63.4 overs. Although Punjab Kings won their first game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, they ended up conceding 135 runs in the last ten overs with the bowlers managing to claim just one wicket in the final five overs.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/updated-ipl-2022-points-table-after-chennai-super-kings-vs-lucknow-super-giants-encounter-467338" hreflang="en">Updated IPL 2022 points table after Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants encounter</a>

Squads<o:p></o:p>

Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Sam Billings, Sheldon Jackson(w), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Mohammad Nabi, Chamika Karunaratne, Baba Indrajith, Rinku Singh, Anukul Roy, Pratham Singh, Abhijeet Tomar, Rasikh Salam, Aman Hakim Khan, Ashok Sharma, Ramesh Kumar<o:p></o:p>

Punjab Kings: Mayank Agarwal(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Bhanuka Rajapaksa(w), Shahrukh Khan, Odean Smith, Raj Bawa, Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Sandeep Sharma, Rahul Chahar, Prabhsimran Singh, Rishi Dhawan, Benny Howell, Ishan Porel, Vaibhav Arora, Ansh Patel, Atharva Taide, Prerak Mankad, Jitesh Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Writtick Chatterjee, Baltej Singh<o:p></o:p>

Punjab Kings will be looking to continue their winning run while Kolkata Knight Riders will eye redemption as the two teams face each other in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Friday.

Punjab Kings will be looking to continue their winning run while Kolkata Knight Riders will eye redemption as the two teams face each other in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Friday. Punjab Kings started their campaign with an impressive victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore as they chased down a total of 205 thanks to good batting performances from the top order. Shikhar Dhawan and Bhanuka Rajapaksha provided the perfect platform for the run chase as big-hitters Shah Rukh Khan and Odean Smith guided them to victory with some fireworks towards the end. Also read | KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings match? KKR, on the other hand, slumped to a defeat against RCB in their second game after beating defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the season opener. The bowlers performed well for KKR but a complete batting collapse saw the side posting the lowest total in IPL 2022 till now. Bowling was also a concern for Punjab as none of their bowlers looked in good form and they ended up conceding 12 wides along with other extras. However, the return of Kagiso Rabada will be a major boost to the side and he can be the answer to their bowling woes on Friday. Here is all you need to know about the IPL 2022 clash between KKR and Punjab Kings: Head-to-Head Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings have faced each other in 29 IPL matches till now with KKR winning 19 while Punjab Kings have won 10. The second significant clash between the two teams came in the final of the 2014 season where KKR were able to clinch their second IPL title. Stats The Wankhede Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for KKR who have won just two times in 12 matches at the venue. Coming to player battles, Punjab pacer Sandeep Sharma has dismissed Shreyas Iyer thrice in IPL but have never dismissed the KKR duo of Sunil Narine and Nitish Rana. Trivia Andre Russell has scored 60 runs against South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada from just 27 deliveries with Rabada dismissing him just once in IPL. This is not good news for Punjab Kings who will be banking on Rabada’s excellent record as a death bowler – 45 wickets in 63.4 overs. Although Punjab Kings won their first game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, they ended up conceding 135 runs in the last ten overs with the bowlers managing to claim just one wicket in the final five overs. Also read | Updated IPL 2022 points table after Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants encounter Squads Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Sam Billings, Sheldon Jackson(w), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Mohammad Nabi, Chamika Karunaratne, Baba Indrajith, Rinku Singh, Anukul Roy, Pratham Singh, Abhijeet Tomar, Rasikh Salam, Aman Hakim Khan, Ashok Sharma, Ramesh Kumar Punjab Kings: Mayank Agarwal(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Bhanuka Rajapaksa(w), Shahrukh Khan, Odean Smith, Raj Bawa, Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Sandeep Sharma, Rahul Chahar, Prabhsimran Singh, Rishi Dhawan, Benny Howell, Ishan Porel, Vaibhav Arora, Ansh Patel, Atharva Taide, Prerak Mankad, Jitesh Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Writtick Chatterjee, Baltej Singh

IPL 2022: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings - Head-to-head record, trivia, stats and squads

The T20 action will continue on Friday (April 1) as match 8 of the IPL 2022 edition will see the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lock horns with the 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

Both sides had contrasting results in their respective last encounters. After a terrific win versus the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the season-opener, KKR conceded a close game to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and, hence, will be eager to return to winning ways. They were asked to bat first versus Faf du Plessis-led Bengaluru, however, their batters fell flat as KKR were bundled out for 128 in 18.5 overs. In reply, KKR stretched the game to the last over before RCB won by three wickets.&nbsp;

On the other hand, Punjab have played only one encounter so far. They also met RCB in their previous game and went past the three-time runners-up by five wickets in a tall run-chase of 206 at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-is-wrong-no-doubt-about-that-former-cricketers-slam-ms-dhoni-over-csk-captaincy-situation-after-lsg-loss-467353">It is wrong, no doubt about that: Former cricketers slam MS Dhoni over CSK captaincy situation after LSG loss</a>

Match prediction for KKR vs PBKS clash:&nbsp;The toss will play a crucial role in deciding the winner of the face-off. Both captains will once again be eager to bowl first and will back their respective troops to chase down any total on a good batting track at the Wankhede. In terms of batting, there is enough firepower in both&nbsp;teams. In bowling, KKR might have an edge given their two big guns, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. For Punjab, the onus will fall on Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar and Arshdeep Singh.

Expect another run-fest. Expect another win for the chasing side. At this point, KKR might have an edge over PBKS (given their variety in bowling and Punjab's knack for being inconsistent).

The T20 action will continue on Friday (April 1) as match 8 of the IPL 2022 edition will see the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lock horns with the 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

The T20 action will continue on Friday (April 1) as match 8 of the IPL 2022 edition will see the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lock horns with the 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Both sides had contrasting results in their respective last encounters. After a terrific win versus the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the season-opener, KKR conceded a close game to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and, hence, will be eager to return to winning ways. They were asked to bat first versus Faf du Plessis-led Bengaluru, however, their batters fell flat as KKR were bundled out for 128 in 18.5 overs. In reply, KKR stretched the game to the last over before RCB won by three wickets. On the other hand, Punjab have played only one encounter so far. They also met RCB in their previous game and went past the three-time runners-up by five wickets in a tall run-chase of 206 at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai. ALSO READ | It is wrong, no doubt about that: Former cricketers slam MS Dhoni over CSK captaincy situation after LSG loss Match prediction for KKR vs PBKS clash: The toss will play a crucial role in deciding the winner of the face-off. Both captains will once again be eager to bowl first and will back their respective troops to chase down any total on a good batting track at the Wankhede. In terms of batting, there is enough firepower in both teams. In bowling, KKR might have an edge given their two big guns, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. For Punjab, the onus will fall on Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar and Arshdeep Singh. Expect another run-fest. Expect another win for the chasing side. At this point, KKR might have an edge over PBKS (given their variety in bowling and Punjab's knack for being inconsistent).

KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings match?

Chris Gayle, one of the biggest T20 names, sprung&nbsp;a huge surprise when he didn't register for the IPL 2022 mega auction, which was held in mid-February. Having been someone who has missed some international fixtures in order to take part in T20 leagues worldwide, Universe Boss' absence from IPL 2022 led to speculations that the swashbuckling opener's IPL career has come to an end.

Nonetheless, the 42-year-old cricketer isn't going anywhere. Recently, Gayle shared an Instagram story where he can be seen sweating it out at the gym and revealed that he is preparing for IPL 2023. Here's Gayle's story:

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-virat-kohli-to-ab-de-villiers-superstar-batters-with-most-ipl-hundreds-463535">From Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli to AB de Villiers - Superstar batters with most IPL hundreds</a>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Chris Gayle Instagram Story 😍😍 
Can't wait to see <a href="https://twitter.com/henrygayle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@henrygayle</a> Universe Boss💪 in the next season of IPL (IPL 2023) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCBvsKKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RCBvsKKR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKRvRCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKRvRCB</a> <a href="https://t.co/PlKhtURnhv">pic.twitter.com/PlKhtURnhv</a>
— Cricket Countdown (@Cric8Countdown) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cric8Countdown/status/1509029862404935685?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/updated-ipl-2022-points-table-after-kolkata-knigt-riders-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-game-467009">Updated IPL 2022 points table after Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore game</a>

For the unversed, Gayle is an IPL legend. He&nbsp;has represented the likes of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in his glittering&nbsp;IPL career, amassing 4,965 runs at 39.72 and a strike rate of&nbsp;148.96. Gayle is the seventh-highest run-getter overall; third-most runs among foreign players in the IPL. In addition, he has as many as six IPL tons (most by any batter).

Gayle was part of the PBKS squad since 2018, however, he wasn't a regular in the playing XI in the last two seasons before he withdrew from the second and final leg of IPL 2021, citing bio-bubble fatigue. It will be interesting to see which team acquires his services if he returns for IPL 2023.

Chris Gayle, one of the biggest T20 names, sprung a huge surprise when he didn't register for the IPL 2022 mega auction, which was held in mid-February. Having been someone who has missed some international fixtures in order to take part in T20 leagues worldwide, Universe Boss' absence from IPL 2022 led to speculations that the swashbuckling opener's IPL career has come to an end.

Chris Gayle, one of the biggest T20 names, sprung a huge surprise when he didn't register for the IPL 2022 mega auction, which was held in mid-February. Having been someone who has missed some international fixtures in order to take part in T20 leagues worldwide, Universe Boss' absence from IPL 2022 led to speculations that the swashbuckling opener's IPL career has come to an end. Nonetheless, the 42-year-old cricketer isn't going anywhere. Recently, Gayle shared an Instagram story where he can be seen sweating it out at the gym and revealed that he is preparing for IPL 2023. Here's Gayle's story: ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli to AB de Villiers - Superstar batters with most IPL hundreds Chris Gayle Instagram Story 😍😍 Can't wait to see @henrygayle Universe Boss💪 in the next season of IPL (IPL 2023) #IPL2022 #RCBvsKKR #KKRvRCB pic.twitter.com/PlKhtURnhv — Cricket Countdown (@Cric8Countdown) March 30, 2022 × ALSO READ | Updated IPL 2022 points table after Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore game For the unversed, Gayle is an IPL legend. He has represented the likes of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in his glittering IPL career, amassing 4,965 runs at 39.72 and a strike rate of 148.96. Gayle is the seventh-highest run-getter overall; third-most runs among foreign players in the IPL. In addition, he has as many as six IPL tons (most by any batter). Gayle was part of the PBKS squad since 2018, however, he wasn't a regular in the playing XI in the last two seasons before he withdrew from the second and final leg of IPL 2021, citing bio-bubble fatigue. It will be interesting to see which team acquires his services if he returns for IPL 2023.

Universe Boss' show not over yet! Chris Gayle kicks off preparations for IPL 2023 - see pic

It was a tough outing for Kolkata Knight Riders as they were defeated by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 encounter in Mumbai on Wednesday.<o:p></o:p>

KKR suffered a mini batting collapse as they were bowled out for 128 thanks to brilliant bowling performances from Mohammad Siraj, Harshal Patel and Wanindu Hasaranga. In response, RCB found the going difficult but were able to reach the target with just four balls to spare.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-suresh-raina-ms-dhoni-and-ab-de-villiers-were-the-most-challenging-to-bowl-to-says-sandeep-sharma-467156" hreflang="en">EXCLUSIVE: Raina, Dhoni &amp; ABD were the toughest to bowl to - Sandeep Sharma</a>

Russell bowled just 2.2 overs and ended up conceding 36 runs as he was taken to task by the RCB batsmen. The West Indies all-rounder did not look completely fit and in the post-match press conference, head coach Brendon McCullum explained why he did not bowl his full quota.<o:p></o:p>

"Dre had run around the boundary and dived, and unfortunately picked up a little bit of a bump. His shoulder was a little bit sore. But Dre being Dre, he still wants to try to get the job done, and he wasn't quite able to. Those are things which happen in low-scoring games," McCullum said.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dinesh-karthik-is-as-close-as-it-gets-to-ms-dhoni-faf-du-plessis-lauds-rcbs-finisher-after-kkr-win-467160" hreflang="en">Faf du Plessis lauds RCB's finisher DK, compares him to MS Dhoni</a>

"I actually thought the intent was great. You back the fact that you played the extra batter, and you played a long batting line-up. You don't anticipate being bowled out obviously."<o:p></o:p>

"Honestly I felt we didn't have a lot of luck today. Every time we sort of went for our aggressive option, we seemed to find a fielder or things didn't quite go our way. That can happen sometimes. But I want us to continue to keep that intent because that served us so well last year. The way we set our teams up at the auction, and the players we picked, it suits them as well," he added.<o:p></o:p>

It was a tough outing for Kolkata Knight Riders as they were defeated by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 encounter in Mumbai on Wednesday.

It was a tough outing for Kolkata Knight Riders as they were defeated by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 encounter in Mumbai on Wednesday. KKR suffered a mini batting collapse as they were bowled out for 128 thanks to brilliant bowling performances from Mohammad Siraj, Harshal Patel and Wanindu Hasaranga. In response, RCB found the going difficult but were able to reach the target with just four balls to spare. Also read | EXCLUSIVE: Raina, Dhoni & ABD were the toughest to bowl to - Sandeep Sharma Russell bowled just 2.2 overs and ended up conceding 36 runs as he was taken to task by the RCB batsmen. The West Indies all-rounder did not look completely fit and in the post-match press conference, head coach Brendon McCullum explained why he did not bowl his full quota. "Dre had run around the boundary and dived, and unfortunately picked up a little bit of a bump. His shoulder was a little bit sore. But Dre being Dre, he still wants to try to get the job done, and he wasn't quite able to. Those are things which happen in low-scoring games," McCullum said. Also read | Faf du Plessis lauds RCB's finisher DK, compares him to MS Dhoni "I actually thought the intent was great. You back the fact that you played the extra batter, and you played a long batting line-up. You don't anticipate being bowled out obviously." "Honestly I felt we didn't have a lot of luck today. Every time we sort of went for our aggressive option, we seemed to find a fielder or things didn't quite go our way. That can happen sometimes. But I want us to continue to keep that intent because that served us so well last year. The way we set our teams up at the auction, and the players we picked, it suits them as well," he added.

IPL 2022: Brendon McCullum reveals why Andre Russell did not bowl his full quota against RCB

Kuldeep Yadav had a memorable debut for the Delhi Capitals as the wily wrist-spinner returned with a match-winning spell of 4-0-18-3 as the one-time&nbsp;runners-up beat five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in their IPL 2022 opening game on March 27 (Sunday) at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.

Kuldeep, who has represented the Kolkata Knight Riders since his debut season in 2016, was right on the money and accounted for three key wickets (in the form of MI captain Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard and Anmolpreet Singh) as Rishabh Pant-led DC chased down a 178-run target versus the Mumbai line-up with four wickets to spare.

Talking about Kuldeep's run in Kolkata, he represented the two-time winners in 43 games and accounted for 40 scalps at an economy of 8.17. However, he wasn't favoured in the KKR XI since IPL 2019. In IPL 2019, he featured in&nbsp;nine games whereas went onto make only five more appearances in the next two seasons before being released by the franchise ahead of IPL 2022 mega auction.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-was-surprised-that-shreyas-iyer-did-not-wasim-jaffer-on-kkr-captains-decision-making-vs-rcb-467208">'I was surprised that Shreyas Iyer did not...': Wasim Jaffer on KKR captain's decision-making vs RCB</a>

Thus, DC's former assistant coach Mohammed Kaif opened up on Kuldeep's forgettable end in KKR and made a glaring remark. "Kuldeep Yadav is a proven match-winner. But he is someone who also needs to be managed well. He is a bit emotional and feels low if he isn't given the bowling or is dropped from the team. The way he was treated at KKR when Dinesh Karthik and Eoin Morgan were the captains, he used to be made to sit at home and not even in the squad. When you behave like this, any match-winner feels the pressure," Kaif told SportsKeeda.

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Following Kuldeep's omission in the KKR setup, his fall became evident in the Team India setup as well. Since the 2019 ODI World Cup, the 27-year-old has fallen behind in the pecking order across all formats. He will hope for a dream IPL 2022 season to revive his international career.

Kuldeep Yadav had a memorable debut for the Delhi Capitals as the wily wrist-spinner returned with a match-winning spell of 4-0-18-3 as the one-time runners-up beat five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in their IPL 2022 opening game on March 27 (Sunday) at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.

Kuldeep Yadav had a memorable debut for the Delhi Capitals as the wily wrist-spinner returned with a match-winning spell of 4-0-18-3 as the one-time runners-up beat five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in their IPL 2022 opening game on March 27 (Sunday) at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. Kuldeep, who has represented the Kolkata Knight Riders since his debut season in 2016, was right on the money and accounted for three key wickets (in the form of MI captain Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard and Anmolpreet Singh) as Rishabh Pant-led DC chased down a 178-run target versus the Mumbai line-up with four wickets to spare. Talking about Kuldeep's run in Kolkata, he represented the two-time winners in 43 games and accounted for 40 scalps at an economy of 8.17. However, he wasn't favoured in the KKR XI since IPL 2019. In IPL 2019, he featured in nine games whereas went onto make only five more appearances in the next two seasons before being released by the franchise ahead of IPL 2022 mega auction. ALSO READ | 'I was surprised that Shreyas Iyer did not...': Wasim Jaffer on KKR captain's decision-making vs RCB Thus, DC's former assistant coach Mohammed Kaif opened up on Kuldeep's forgettable end in KKR and made a glaring remark. "Kuldeep Yadav is a proven match-winner. But he is someone who also needs to be managed well. He is a bit emotional and feels low if he isn't given the bowling or is dropped from the team. The way he was treated at KKR when Dinesh Karthik and Eoin Morgan were the captains, he used to be made to sit at home and not even in the squad. When you behave like this, any match-winner feels the pressure," Kaif told SportsKeeda. ALSO READ | Kohli No. 1 in top celebrity endorser list despite brand valuation dip, Dhoni's climbs to $61 million: Report Following Kuldeep's omission in the KKR setup, his fall became evident in the Team India setup as well. Since the 2019 ODI World Cup, the 27-year-old has fallen behind in the pecking order across all formats. He will hope for a dream IPL 2022 season to revive his international career.

'He used to be made to sit at home' - Md Kaif makes glaring remark, opines on how KKR treated Kuldeep Yadav

Royal Challengers Bangalore batters overcame some nervy moments after leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga spun his way to a four-wicket haul to register a three-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in a low-scoring IPL match here on Wednesday.

Hasaranga lived up to his Rs 10.75 crore price tag as his four-wicket burst helped RCB dismiss KKR for 128. 
The Sri Lankan was ably supported by the pace trio of Akash Deep (3/45), Harshal Patel (2/11) and Mohammed Siraj (1/25) after RCB won the toss and elected to bowl at DY Patil Stadium here.

In reply, Sherfane Rutherford (28), David Willey (18) and Shahbaz Ahmed (27) played crucial innings as RCB survived some anxious moments before overhauling the target, scoring 132 for 7 in 19.2 overs after Tim Southee (3/20) and Umesh Yadav (2/16) blew away their top-order.

Yadav and Southee troubled the top-order batters with their pace and bounce, leaving RCB at 17 for 3 at one stage. 
While Anuj Rawat (0) got a thick outside edge off Umesh, Faf Du Plessis (5) got a leading edge to the point fielder and Virat Kohli (12) paid the price for playing away from the body.

Willey and Rutherford then tried to rebuild the chase with a 45-run stand but Sunil Narine broke the partnership in the 11th over as he had the former caught at midwicket. Coming to the crease, Shahbaz pulled Andre Russell for two maximums as RCB amassed 15 runs to ease the pressure.

Needing 36 off 30 balls, Shahbaz hit another six off Chakravarthy before being deceived by the bowler as RCB slumped to 101 for 5. With pressure mounting, Rutherford went for a slog only to be caught behind off Southee. 
Needing 17 off the last two overs, Harshal Patel smashed two fours, while Dinesh Karthik (14 not out) blasted a six and a four in the first two balls of the last over to take the team home.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/updated-ipl-2022-points-table-after-kolkata-knigt-riders-vs-royal-challengers-bangalore-game-467009">Updated IPL 2022 points table after Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore game</a>

Earlier, KKR batters struggled with the extra bounce and went for shots too many despite losing wickets at regular intervals. None of the batters could capitalise on the starts as KKR lost six wickets for 57 runs to slip from 44 for 3 to 101 for 9 in 14.3 overs.

Big-hitting West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell was the highest scorer for KKR with an 18-ball 25, while Umesh Yadav (18) and Varun Chakravarthy (10) added 27 runs, the fourth-highest for the 10th wicket in IPL history, to provide some respectability to the total.

Venkatesh Iyer was the first to be dismissed with Akash Deep striking on his first delivery, while Ajinkya Rahane's shaky start ended when he was holed out in the fifth over off Siraj as KKR slipped to 32 for 2.

Nitish Rana too perished quickly with David Willey producing a stunning catch as KKR slipped to 44 for 3 in the first six overs. Skipper Shreyas Iyer then paid the price for an irresponsible shot, hitting straight to Du Plessis at long-on for Hasaranga's first wicket.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/david-willey-takes-exceptional-catch-running-backwards-to-send-nitish-rana-packing-against-kkr-watch-466995">David Willey takes exceptional catch running backwards to send Nitish Rana packing against KKR - WATCH</a>

Despite the match situation, West Indies all-rounder Sunil Narine went for his shots, sending Akash Deep across mid-off before top-edging him for a maximum. However, Hasaranga came back to strike twice in two balls as KKR slumped to 67 for 6 in 9 overs.

While Narine ended up giving an easy catch to point fielder, Sheldon Jackson was cleaned up with a ripping googly. 
Sam Billing, who survived an LBW appeal in his first ball, slammed a six before making his way back to the hut with a miscued pull which was comfortably held by Kohli at long-on.

Russell then smashed three sixes and a four before edging Patel to Karthik, while Tim Southee mistimed one to Du Plessis to become Hasaranga's fourth victim.

Royal Challengers Bangalore batters overcame some nervy moments after leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga spun his way to a four-wicket haul to register a three-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in a low-scoring IPL match here on Wednesday.

Royal Challengers Bangalore batters overcame some nervy moments after leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga spun his way to a four-wicket haul to register a three-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in a low-scoring IPL match here on Wednesday. Hasaranga lived up to his Rs 10.75 crore price tag as his four-wicket burst helped RCB dismiss KKR for 128. The Sri Lankan was ably supported by the pace trio of Akash Deep (3/45), Harshal Patel (2/11) and Mohammed Siraj (1/25) after RCB won the toss and elected to bowl at DY Patil Stadium here. In reply, Sherfane Rutherford (28), David Willey (18) and Shahbaz Ahmed (27) played crucial innings as RCB survived some anxious moments before overhauling the target, scoring 132 for 7 in 19.2 overs after Tim Southee (3/20) and Umesh Yadav (2/16) blew away their top-order. Yadav and Southee troubled the top-order batters with their pace and bounce, leaving RCB at 17 for 3 at one stage. While Anuj Rawat (0) got a thick outside edge off Umesh, Faf Du Plessis (5) got a leading edge to the point fielder and Virat Kohli (12) paid the price for playing away from the body. Willey and Rutherford then tried to rebuild the chase with a 45-run stand but Sunil Narine broke the partnership in the 11th over as he had the former caught at midwicket. Coming to the crease, Shahbaz pulled Andre Russell for two maximums as RCB amassed 15 runs to ease the pressure. Needing 36 off 30 balls, Shahbaz hit another six off Chakravarthy before being deceived by the bowler as RCB slumped to 101 for 5. With pressure mounting, Rutherford went for a slog only to be caught behind off Southee. Needing 17 off the last two overs, Harshal Patel smashed two fours, while Dinesh Karthik (14 not out) blasted a six and a four in the first two balls of the last over to take the team home. Also Read: Updated IPL 2022 points table after Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore game Earlier, KKR batters struggled with the extra bounce and went for shots too many despite losing wickets at regular intervals. None of the batters could capitalise on the starts as KKR lost six wickets for 57 runs to slip from 44 for 3 to 101 for 9 in 14.3 overs. Big-hitting West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell was the highest scorer for KKR with an 18-ball 25, while Umesh Yadav (18) and Varun Chakravarthy (10) added 27 runs, the fourth-highest for the 10th wicket in IPL history, to provide some respectability to the total. Venkatesh Iyer was the first to be dismissed with Akash Deep striking on his first delivery, while Ajinkya Rahane's shaky start ended when he was holed out in the fifth over off Siraj as KKR slipped to 32 for 2. Nitish Rana too perished quickly with David Willey producing a stunning catch as KKR slipped to 44 for 3 in the first six overs. Skipper Shreyas Iyer then paid the price for an irresponsible shot, hitting straight to Du Plessis at long-on for Hasaranga's first wicket. Also Read: David Willey takes exceptional catch running backwards to send Nitish Rana packing against KKR - WATCH Despite the match situation, West Indies all-rounder Sunil Narine went for his shots, sending Akash Deep across mid-off before top-edging him for a maximum. However, Hasaranga came back to strike twice in two balls as KKR slumped to 67 for 6 in 9 overs. While Narine ended up giving an easy catch to point fielder, Sheldon Jackson was cleaned up with a ripping googly. Sam Billing, who survived an LBW appeal in his first ball, slammed a six before making his way back to the hut with a miscued pull which was comfortably held by Kohli at long-on. Russell then smashed three sixes and a four before edging Patel to Karthik, while Tim Southee mistimed one to Du Plessis to become Hasaranga's fourth victim.

IPL 2022: RCB beat KKR by three wickets in a low-scoring thriller to bag first win of the tournament

Shreyas Iyer-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be aiming for their second win in a row when they take on Faf du Plessis's Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their second game of the ongoing IPL 2022. The two sides will meet at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Thursday (March 30).

While KKR got their campaign off to a flyer with a comprehensive victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their opening game of the season last week, RCB lost their opener against Punjab Kings by five wickets after failing to defend a total of 205 runs in what was a disappointing performance from their bowlers.

Despite their losing start, RCB will take a lot of positive from their game against Punjab Kings as skipper Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli both looked in tremendous touch. They would be concerned about their bowling after a poor show against Punjab but RCB have amazing depth in their bowling attack and will be hopeful of the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel and Wanindu Hasaranga finding their rhythm soon.

KKR, on the other hand, lack quality in their pace attack despite Umesh Yadav starting the tournament on a confident note. While Umesh was among the wickets, Shivam Mavi was taken to the cleaners in the death overs by MS Dhoni. RCB batters can exploit KKR's weakness in the pace department and once again look to put on a big total on the board.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-venkatesh-iyer-to-continue-opening-wth-ajinkya-rahane-kkrs-predicted-playing-xi-for-rcb-clash-466906">&nbsp;Venkatesh Iyer to continue opening with Ajinkya Rahane? KKR's predicted playing XI for RCB clash</a>

Here is all you need to know about the IPL 2022 clash between KKR and RCB:

Head to Head:

Kolkata Knight Riders have a slight edge over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the head-to-head record between the two sides. KKR have won 16 times in 29 meetings between the two teams so far in the history of IPL.

Stats

Sunil Narine and Andre Russell have destructive numbers with the bat against RCB. While Russell has scored at a strike rate of 215.12, Narine has batted with a strike rate of 196.43 against RCB. RCB pacer Mohammed Siraj is yet to pick a wicket in Powerplay in ten IPL matches.

Trivia

Faf du Plessis was the Player of the Match against KKR twice last season while playing for his former side Chennai Super Kings. Du Plessis was also the Player of the Match in the IPL 2021 final between the two sides.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/truth-is-bitter-parthiv-patel-shares-cryptic-tweet-after-his-comments-on-kohli-bumrah-go-viral-466890">'Truth is bitter': Parthiv Patel shares cryptic tweet after his comments on Kohli, Bumrah go viral</a>

Squads

Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Sam Billings, Sheldon Jackson(w), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Mohammad Nabi, Chamika Karunaratne, Baba Indrajith, Rinku Singh, Anukul Roy, Pratham Singh, Abhijeet Tomar, Rasikh Salam, Aman Hakim Khan, Ashok Sharma, Ramesh Kumar

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis(c), Anuj Rawat, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik(w), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey, Harshal Patel, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Siddarth Kaul, Karn Sharma, Chama V Milind, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Suyash Prabhudessai, Luvnith Sisodia, Aneeshwar Gautam

&nbsp;

Shreyas Iyer-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be aiming for their second win in a row when they take on Faf du Plessis's Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their second game of the ongoing IPL 2022.

Shreyas Iyer-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be aiming for their second win in a row when they take on Faf du Plessis's Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their second game of the ongoing IPL 2022. The two sides will meet at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Thursday (March 30). While KKR got their campaign off to a flyer with a comprehensive victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their opening game of the season last week, RCB lost their opener against Punjab Kings by five wickets after failing to defend a total of 205 runs in what was a disappointing performance from their bowlers. Despite their losing start, RCB will take a lot of positive from their game against Punjab Kings as skipper Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli both looked in tremendous touch. They would be concerned about their bowling after a poor show against Punjab but RCB have amazing depth in their bowling attack and will be hopeful of the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel and Wanindu Hasaranga finding their rhythm soon. KKR, on the other hand, lack quality in their pace attack despite Umesh Yadav starting the tournament on a confident note. While Umesh was among the wickets, Shivam Mavi was taken to the cleaners in the death overs by MS Dhoni. RCB batters can exploit KKR's weakness in the pace department and once again look to put on a big total on the board. Also Read: Venkatesh Iyer to continue opening with Ajinkya Rahane? KKR's predicted playing XI for RCB clash Here is all you need to know about the IPL 2022 clash between KKR and RCB: Head to Head: Kolkata Knight Riders have a slight edge over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the head-to-head record between the two sides. KKR have won 16 times in 29 meetings between the two teams so far in the history of IPL. Stats Sunil Narine and Andre Russell have destructive numbers with the bat against RCB. While Russell has scored at a strike rate of 215.12, Narine has batted with a strike rate of 196.43 against RCB. RCB pacer Mohammed Siraj is yet to pick a wicket in Powerplay in ten IPL matches. Trivia Faf du Plessis was the Player of the Match against KKR twice last season while playing for his former side Chennai Super Kings. Du Plessis was also the Player of the Match in the IPL 2021 final between the two sides. Also Read: 'Truth is bitter': Parthiv Patel shares cryptic tweet after his comments on Kohli, Bumrah go viral Squads Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Sam Billings, Sheldon Jackson(w), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Mohammad Nabi, Chamika Karunaratne, Baba Indrajith, Rinku Singh, Anukul Roy, Pratham Singh, Abhijeet Tomar, Rasikh Salam, Aman Hakim Khan, Ashok Sharma, Ramesh Kumar Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis(c), Anuj Rawat, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik(w), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey, Harshal Patel, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Siddarth Kaul, Karn Sharma, Chama V Milind, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Suyash Prabhudessai, Luvnith Sisodia, Aneeshwar Gautam

IPL 2022: RCB vs KKR - Head to head record, trivia, stats and squads

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got off to a perfect start in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 with a thumping win over Ravindra Jadeja-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their opening game of the season. KKR rode on impressive performances from the likes of Umesh Yadav, Sunil Narine and Ajinkya Rahane to beat CSK by six wickets in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

After kicking off their journey with a victory under new captain Shreyas Iyer, KKR will be keen on continuing their winning run when they lock horns with Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their second game of the season at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday (March 30).

Umesh was the pick of the bowlers for KKR against CSK as the veteran Indian pacer redeemed himself in style after struggling in the past couple of seasons in the IPL. Umesh dismissed CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway cheaply in the Powerplay to finish with excellent figures of 2/20 in his 4 overs and is likely to spearhead the pace attack one against his former team RCB.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/truth-is-bitter-parthiv-patel-shares-cryptic-tweet-after-his-comments-on-kohli-bumrah-go-viral-466890">'Truth is bitter': Parthiv Patel shares cryptic tweet after his comments on Kohli, Bumrah go viral</a>

Apart from Umesh, spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy were also excellent for KKR as the duo maintained a brilliant economy rate to restrict CSK on a low-key total. They will be looking to continue their fine form against RCB on Wednesday.

Rahane, who too has struggled in the IPL over the last few seasons, played a brilliant knock of 44 runs against CSK in KKR's opener and is likely to continue opening with Venkatesh Iyer with Narine playing the finisher's role in the middle-order. KKR played against CSK with only 3 overseas players in the XI but might make a change against RCB.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rcb-vs-kkr-ipl-2022-prediction-who-will-win-royal-challengers-bangalore-vs-kolkata-knight-riders-match-466843">IPL 2022 prediction: Who will win Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders match?</a>

KKR might rope in New Zealand pacer Tim Southee in place of Shivam Mavi to further strengthen their pace attack. Sri Lanka all-rounder&nbsp;Chamika Karunaratne might also be in contention to get a spot in the XI but Southee remains a favourite to replace Mavi, who went for runs against CSK.

KKR's predicted XI for IPL 2022 clash against RCB:

Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer (c), Sam Billings, Andre Russell, Sheldon Jackson (wk), Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

&nbsp;

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got off to a perfect start in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 with a thumping win over Ravindra Jadeja-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their opening game of the season.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got off to a perfect start in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 with a thumping win over Ravindra Jadeja-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their opening game of the season. KKR rode on impressive performances from the likes of Umesh Yadav, Sunil Narine and Ajinkya Rahane to beat CSK by six wickets in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. After kicking off their journey with a victory under new captain Shreyas Iyer, KKR will be keen on continuing their winning run when they lock horns with Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their second game of the season at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday (March 30). Umesh was the pick of the bowlers for KKR against CSK as the veteran Indian pacer redeemed himself in style after struggling in the past couple of seasons in the IPL. Umesh dismissed CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway cheaply in the Powerplay to finish with excellent figures of 2/20 in his 4 overs and is likely to spearhead the pace attack one against his former team RCB. Also Read: 'Truth is bitter': Parthiv Patel shares cryptic tweet after his comments on Kohli, Bumrah go viral Apart from Umesh, spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy were also excellent for KKR as the duo maintained a brilliant economy rate to restrict CSK on a low-key total. They will be looking to continue their fine form against RCB on Wednesday. Rahane, who too has struggled in the IPL over the last few seasons, played a brilliant knock of 44 runs against CSK in KKR's opener and is likely to continue opening with Venkatesh Iyer with Narine playing the finisher's role in the middle-order. KKR played against CSK with only 3 overseas players in the XI but might make a change against RCB. Also Read: IPL 2022 prediction: Who will win Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders match? KKR might rope in New Zealand pacer Tim Southee in place of Shivam Mavi to further strengthen their pace attack. Sri Lanka all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne might also be in contention to get a spot in the XI but Southee remains a favourite to replace Mavi, who went for runs against CSK. KKR's predicted XI for IPL 2022 clash against RCB: Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer (c), Sam Billings, Andre Russell, Sheldon Jackson (wk), Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

IPL 2022: Venkatesh Iyer to continue opening with Ajinkya Rahane? KKR's predicted playing XI for RCB clash

Match 6 of the ongoing IPL 2022 edition will see the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) square off with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Dr DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai on Wednesday evening (March 30).&nbsp;

This will be the second game for both the franchises in the 15th season. While the new edition has just began, KKR will be confident with their spirited start as they romped past the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by six wickets in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Everything clicked for the KKR unit, with early strikes from the pacers to spinners choking the CSK batters before their batters led them to an easy win.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-rr-captain-sanju-samson-gives-cheeky-reply-to-danny-marrisons-title-drought-question-post-srh-win-466833">IPL 2022: RR captain Sanju Samson gives cheeky reply to Danny Marrison's title-drought question post SRH win</a>

If one has to be critical and point out a few flaws, KKR bowlers did go for a few in the last few overs as CSK managed to post 131 for 5. At one stage, it seemed they would be restricted to anything below 120. On the other hand, KKR closed the run-chase in the penultimate over. Nonetheless, it was a big win and the newly-formed KKR franchise made a statement in their first encounter.&nbsp;

On the other hand, similar problems persist&nbsp;with the RCB franchise. The three-time runners-up rode on fine knocks from skipper Faf du Plessis (88), Virat Kohli's 29-ball 41* and Dinesh Karthik's 14-ball 32 not out to post 205-2 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first in their season-opener versus the Punjab Kings (PBKS). Nonetheless, their death-bowling didn't stand up as RCB conceded the game in the final over, losing by five wickets.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/updated-ipl-2022-points-table-after-rjasthan-royals-vs-sunrisers-hyderabad-clash-466775">Updated IPL 2022 points table after Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad clash</a>

Match prediction for KKR vs RCB clash:&nbsp;The venue is expected to remain good&nbsp;for batters. Expect some big hits from the likes of Faf, Kohli, Andre Russell, Shreyas Iyer, Karthik, Venkatesh Iyer, etc. Both teams will fancy bowling first. If RCB lose the toss and are made to bowl second, their death-bowling will once again be challenged. On the other hand, KKR have variety in their bowling department, which gives them a certain edge for the encounter.

Match 6 of the ongoing IPL 2022 edition will see the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) square off with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Dr DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai on Wednesday evening (March 30).

Match 6 of the ongoing IPL 2022 edition will see the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) square off with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Dr DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai on Wednesday evening (March 30). This will be the second game for both the franchises in the 15th season. While the new edition has just began, KKR will be confident with their spirited start as they romped past the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by six wickets in the season-opener at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Everything clicked for the KKR unit, with early strikes from the pacers to spinners choking the CSK batters before their batters led them to an easy win. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: RR captain Sanju Samson gives cheeky reply to Danny Marrison's title-drought question post SRH win If one has to be critical and point out a few flaws, KKR bowlers did go for a few in the last few overs as CSK managed to post 131 for 5. At one stage, it seemed they would be restricted to anything below 120. On the other hand, KKR closed the run-chase in the penultimate over. Nonetheless, it was a big win and the newly-formed KKR franchise made a statement in their first encounter. On the other hand, similar problems persist with the RCB franchise. The three-time runners-up rode on fine knocks from skipper Faf du Plessis (88), Virat Kohli's 29-ball 41* and Dinesh Karthik's 14-ball 32 not out to post 205-2 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first in their season-opener versus the Punjab Kings (PBKS). Nonetheless, their death-bowling didn't stand up as RCB conceded the game in the final over, losing by five wickets. ALSO READ | Updated IPL 2022 points table after Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad clash Match prediction for KKR vs RCB clash: The venue is expected to remain good for batters. Expect some big hits from the likes of Faf, Kohli, Andre Russell, Shreyas Iyer, Karthik, Venkatesh Iyer, etc. Both teams will fancy bowling first. If RCB lose the toss and are made to bowl second, their death-bowling will once again be challenged. On the other hand, KKR have variety in their bowling department, which gives them a certain edge for the encounter.

RCB vs KKR, IPL 2022 prediction: Who will win Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders match?

Shoaib Akhtar remains a big name in world cricket. The Rawalpindi Express was known for his ferocious pace and ended his stellar international career with 444 wickets overall, apart from battling several injuries and controversies.

Akhtar was among the Pakistani players who took part in the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008. Akhtar was part of the Sourav Ganguly-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise but hardly played a lot of games. The former pacer ended the season with only three games, accounting for a total of five scalps. He, however, contributed with&nbsp;a Player-of-the-Match performance in KKR's thrilling win over Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata (where he returned with 4 for 11 in Kolkata's defence of 134). It was also his maiden outing for the franchise.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/old-vintage-virat-kohli-aakash-chopra-praises-former-rcb-skipper-for-his-unbeaten-41-vs-pbks-466370">Old vintage Virat Kohli: Aakash Chopra praises former RCB skipper for his unbeaten 41 vs PBKS</a>

During his maiden IPL game, Akhtar went all-out in celebrating one of his&nbsp;scalps and recalled how he took former KKR opener, Aakash Chopra, by surprise.&nbsp;

"I remember in that (KKR vs DD) game I was charged up after taking a wicket and had grabbed Aakash Chopra by the collar to pull him closer. He then requested that I be careful not to break his ribs while doing that. After that, I also jumped on Salman Butt while celebrating."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-looked-at-anushka-sharma-in-shock-virat-kohli-recalls-ab-de-villiers-shocking-ipl-retirement-466667">'I looked at Anushka Sharma in shock' - Virat Kohli recalls AB de Villiers' shocking IPL retirement</a>

Since the IPL 2008 edition, no Pakistani player has featured in the tournament in the following seasons. At present, Akhtar remains vocal on various aspects of the gentlemen's game whereas KKR have got off to a winning start in IPL 2022, beating defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with ease in the season-opener on March 26.

Shoaib Akhtar remains a big name in world cricket. The Rawalpindi Express was known for his ferocious pace and ended his stellar international career with 444 wickets overall, apart from battling several injuries and controversies.

Shoaib Akhtar remains a big name in world cricket. The Rawalpindi Express was known for his ferocious pace and ended his stellar international career with 444 wickets overall, apart from battling several injuries and controversies. Akhtar was among the Pakistani players who took part in the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008. Akhtar was part of the Sourav Ganguly-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise but hardly played a lot of games. The former pacer ended the season with only three games, accounting for a total of five scalps. He, however, contributed with a Player-of-the-Match performance in KKR's thrilling win over Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata (where he returned with 4 for 11 in Kolkata's defence of 134). It was also his maiden outing for the franchise. ALSO READ | Old vintage Virat Kohli: Aakash Chopra praises former RCB skipper for his unbeaten 41 vs PBKS During his maiden IPL game, Akhtar went all-out in celebrating one of his scalps and recalled how he took former KKR opener, Aakash Chopra, by surprise. "I remember in that (KKR vs DD) game I was charged up after taking a wicket and had grabbed Aakash Chopra by the collar to pull him closer. He then requested that I be careful not to break his ribs while doing that. After that, I also jumped on Salman Butt while celebrating." ALSO READ | 'I looked at Anushka Sharma in shock' - Virat Kohli recalls AB de Villiers' shocking IPL retirement Since the IPL 2008 edition, no Pakistani player has featured in the tournament in the following seasons. At present, Akhtar remains vocal on various aspects of the gentlemen's game whereas KKR have got off to a winning start in IPL 2022, beating defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with ease in the season-opener on March 26.

Aakash Chopra requested me to not break his ribs: Shoaib Akhtar recalls his KKR days during IPL 2008

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by six wickets in the opening game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Saturday to get off to a winning start in the tournament. KKR rode on impressive performances from Indian pacer Umesh Yadav and opener Ajinkya Rahane to outclass CSK at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

While spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy bowled sensational spells to tighten the noose on the CSK batting line-up, Umesh was the pick of the bowlers as he got KKR off to a brilliants start with two quick wickets at the top. Umesh got rid of CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad (0) and Devon Conway (3) cheaply to derail the CSK batting line-up.

Umesh didn't have the best of starts to his spell as he bowled a no-ball on the first ball of the over before bowling a wide. However, he sent Gaikwad packing on the third delivery of the first over to draw the first blood for KKR. After Umesh dismissed Gaikwad on a duck, former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden praised him while commentating during the match.

However, one of Hayden's comments didn't go down well with the fans. While praising Umesh, Hayden referred to the Indian pacer's struggles in the IPL over the last couple of seasons and said - "Someone else’s trash has become KKR’s treasure”. Hayden was referring to the fact that Umesh had managed only two appearances in the last two seasons for his last team.

However, his comment irked many on Twitter, who criticised the former Australian cricketer for his 'below the belt' remarks. Check out some of the reactions:&nbsp;

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Very very harsh thing to say. Has hayden seen Umesh perform with the new ball for RCB? 
 
The others simply failed to use him well. <a href="https://t.co/KzXQfeAbrr">https://t.co/KzXQfeAbrr</a>
— Shriram (@shriramtweet) <a href="https://twitter.com/shriramtweet/status/1507739615083388941?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Wow! Those were some strong words. Hayden has been acting quite weird after the Pakistan gig. Maybe just coincidence. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hayden?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hayden</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Umesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Umesh</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSKvKKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSKvKKR</a> <a href="https://t.co/YAA05HmpB7">https://t.co/YAA05HmpB7</a>
— Adam Rego (@mindfulprostate) <a href="https://twitter.com/mindfulprostate/status/1507761969809735681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Mathew Hayden: Someone else’s trash has become KKR’s treasure 
 
On Umesh Yadav. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/banhayden?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#banhayden</a>
— Rahul (@rahul090589) <a href="https://twitter.com/rahul090589/status/1507767786335993858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Mr. Hayden, Umesh was part of <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiCapitals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DelhiCapitals</a> for past two seasons 
 
Kindly try to do some homework. PLEASE <a href="https://twitter.com/HaydosTweets?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HaydosTweets</a>
— Himanshu (@himforcric) <a href="https://twitter.com/himforcric/status/1507721209236000770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Mathew Hayden: Someone else’s trash has become KKR’s treasure<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UmeshYadav?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UmeshYadav</a> proving someone wrong here.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSK%F0%93%83%AC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSK𓃬</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSKvKKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSKvKKR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKRHaiTaiyaar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKRHaiTaiyaar</a>
— Ravi Sinha (@_ravitweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/_ravitweets/status/1507725139705843719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-scripts-unique-record-with-his-brilliant-fifty-against-kolkata-knight-riders-in-ipl-2022-opener-465870">MS Dhoni scripts unique record with his brilliant fifty against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2022 opener</a>

Umesh turned the game on its head for KKR with his impressive bowling in the Powerplay before Narine and Chakaravarthy combined to restrict CSK on a paltry 131/5 in 20 overs. KKR chased down the target comfortably with nine balls to spare to register a comprehensive win and get off to a winning start in the tournament.

Speaking about his performance, Umesh said it felt great for him to be lifting the Man of the Match award after not playing a single game in the IPL 2021 last year.&nbsp;

"Getting this after 2 years and I am very happy with the performance. I haven't played white-ball cricket for a while and thanks to head coach and captain for keeping trust in me and telling me that I am going to be in the starting eleven," said the experienced Indian pacer.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by six wickets in the opening game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Saturday to get off to a winning start in the tournament.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by six wickets in the opening game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Saturday to get off to a winning start in the tournament. KKR rode on impressive performances from Indian pacer Umesh Yadav and opener Ajinkya Rahane to outclass CSK at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. While spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy bowled sensational spells to tighten the noose on the CSK batting line-up, Umesh was the pick of the bowlers as he got KKR off to a brilliants start with two quick wickets at the top. Umesh got rid of CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad (0) and Devon Conway (3) cheaply to derail the CSK batting line-up. Umesh didn't have the best of starts to his spell as he bowled a no-ball on the first ball of the over before bowling a wide. However, he sent Gaikwad packing on the third delivery of the first over to draw the first blood for KKR. After Umesh dismissed Gaikwad on a duck, former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden praised him while commentating during the match. However, one of Hayden's comments didn't go down well with the fans. While praising Umesh, Hayden referred to the Indian pacer's struggles in the IPL over the last couple of seasons and said - "Someone else’s trash has become KKR’s treasure”. Hayden was referring to the fact that Umesh had managed only two appearances in the last two seasons for his last team. However, his comment irked many on Twitter, who criticised the former Australian cricketer for his 'below the belt' remarks. Check out some of the reactions: Very very harsh thing to say. Has hayden seen Umesh perform with the new ball for RCB? The others simply failed to use him well. https://t.co/KzXQfeAbrr — Shriram (@shriramtweet) March 26, 2022 × Wow! Those were some strong words. Hayden has been acting quite weird after the Pakistan gig. Maybe just coincidence. #IPL2022 #Hayden #Umesh #CSKvKKR https://t.co/YAA05HmpB7 — Adam Rego (@mindfulprostate) March 26, 2022 × Mathew Hayden: Someone else’s trash has become KKR’s treasure On Umesh Yadav. #banhayden — Rahul (@rahul090589) March 26, 2022 × Mr. Hayden, Umesh was part of @DelhiCapitals for past two seasons Kindly try to do some homework. PLEASE @HaydosTweets — Himanshu (@himforcric) March 26, 2022 × Mathew Hayden: Someone else’s trash has become KKR’s treasure#UmeshYadav proving someone wrong here.#IPL2022 #CSK𓃬 #CSKvKKR #KKRHaiTaiyaar — Ravi Sinha (@_ravitweets) March 26, 2022 × Also Read: MS Dhoni scripts unique record with his brilliant fifty against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2022 opener Umesh turned the game on its head for KKR with his impressive bowling in the Powerplay before Narine and Chakaravarthy combined to restrict CSK on a paltry 131/5 in 20 overs. KKR chased down the target comfortably with nine balls to spare to register a comprehensive win and get off to a winning start in the tournament. Speaking about his performance, Umesh said it felt great for him to be lifting the Man of the Match award after not playing a single game in the IPL 2021 last year. "Getting this after 2 years and I am very happy with the performance. I haven't played white-ball cricket for a while and thanks to head coach and captain for keeping trust in me and telling me that I am going to be in the starting eleven," said the experienced Indian pacer.

IPL 2022: Matthew Hayden slammed on Twitter after 'trash' comment on KKR pacer Umesh Yadav

KKR begin IPL 2022 campaign with six-wicket victory over CSK

MS Dhoni turned back the clock with a vintage performance against Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening game of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Saturday (March 26). Dhoni slammed a brilliant fifty to help Chennai Super Kings (CSK) stage a fightback against KKR and post a respectable total on the board at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Invited to bat first in the opening game, CSK got off to a woeful start as they lost openers Ruturaj Gaikwad (0) and Devon Conway (3) cheaply before Robin&nbsp;Uthappa (28) and Ambati Rayudu (15) were sent back in quick succession. Captain Ravindra Jadeja did manage to hold one end to arrest the collapse but failed to get going as he stayed unbeaten on 26 off 28 balls.

40-year-old Dhoni, playing his first game after giving up the captaincy, stepped up yet again for the defending champions as he scored 50 off 38 balls with the help of 7 fours and a solitary six. Dhoni started slow and struggled to middle the ball but managed to finish in his own style as he helped CSK post 131 runs on the board from 61/5 in 11 overs.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ravindra-jadeja-more-than-capable-of-handling-captaincy-for-csk-says-former-india-head-coach-ravi-shastri-465759">&nbsp;Ravindra Jadeja more than capable of handling captaincy for CSK, says former India head coach Ravi Shastri</a>

With his fifty, Dhoni brought an end to an almost three-year-long drought for a half-century in the IPL and achieved a unique record. The former CSK skipper became the oldest Indian player in the history of the tournament to score a half-century. He surpassed the record set by Rahul Dravid, who scored a fifty at the age of 40 years and 116 days in 2013.

Oldest Indian batter to score an IPL fifty:

40y 262d - MS Dhoni v KKR, 2022 
40y 116d - Rahul Dravid v DC, 2013 
39y 362d - Sachin Tendulkar v DC, 2013

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dwayne-bravo-equals-lasith-malingas-all-time-record-becomes-joint-highest-wicket-taker-in-ipl-history-465852">Dwayne Bravo equals Lasith Malinga's all-time record, becomes joint-highest wicket-taker in IPL history</a>&nbsp;

Dhoni last scored a fifty in the IPL during the 2019 season when he played a sensational knock of 84 runs off just 48 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Despite Dhoni's stunning knock, CSK had ended up on the losing side as they lost the game by just 1 run.

Talking about the IPL 2022 opener on Sunday, KKR defeated CSK by six wickets after comfortably chasing down the target of 132 runs with nine balls to spare. Opener Ajinkya Rahane scored 44 off 34 balls and top-scored for the Shreays Iyer-led side as they resgistered a commanding win against Jadeja-led CSK.

MS Dhoni turned back the clock with a vintage performance against Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening game of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Saturday (March 26).

MS Dhoni turned back the clock with a vintage performance against Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening game of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Saturday (March 26). Dhoni slammed a brilliant fifty to help Chennai Super Kings (CSK) stage a fightback against KKR and post a respectable total on the board at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Invited to bat first in the opening game, CSK got off to a woeful start as they lost openers Ruturaj Gaikwad (0) and Devon Conway (3) cheaply before Robin Uthappa (28) and Ambati Rayudu (15) were sent back in quick succession. Captain Ravindra Jadeja did manage to hold one end to arrest the collapse but failed to get going as he stayed unbeaten on 26 off 28 balls. 40-year-old Dhoni, playing his first game after giving up the captaincy, stepped up yet again for the defending champions as he scored 50 off 38 balls with the help of 7 fours and a solitary six. Dhoni started slow and struggled to middle the ball but managed to finish in his own style as he helped CSK post 131 runs on the board from 61/5 in 11 overs. Also Read: Ravindra Jadeja more than capable of handling captaincy for CSK, says former India head coach Ravi Shastri With his fifty, Dhoni brought an end to an almost three-year-long drought for a half-century in the IPL and achieved a unique record. The former CSK skipper became the oldest Indian player in the history of the tournament to score a half-century. He surpassed the record set by Rahul Dravid, who scored a fifty at the age of 40 years and 116 days in 2013. Oldest Indian batter to score an IPL fifty: 40y 262d - MS Dhoni v KKR, 2022 40y 116d - Rahul Dravid v DC, 2013 39y 362d - Sachin Tendulkar v DC, 2013 Also Read: Dwayne Bravo equals Lasith Malinga's all-time record, becomes joint-highest wicket-taker in IPL history Dhoni last scored a fifty in the IPL during the 2019 season when he played a sensational knock of 84 runs off just 48 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Despite Dhoni's stunning knock, CSK had ended up on the losing side as they lost the game by just 1 run. Talking about the IPL 2022 opener on Sunday, KKR defeated CSK by six wickets after comfortably chasing down the target of 132 runs with nine balls to spare. Opener Ajinkya Rahane scored 44 off 34 balls and top-scored for the Shreays Iyer-led side as they resgistered a commanding win against Jadeja-led CSK.

MS Dhoni scripts unique record with his brilliant fifty against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2022 opener

A brilliant bowling performance followed by an impactful batting effort helped Kolkata Knight Riders beat Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in the opening match of the IPL 2022 at the Wankhede Stadium, here on Saturday. 
 
KKR bowlers -- Umesh Yadav (2/20) and Varun Chakaravarthy (1/23) bowled well and restricted Chennai Super Kings to 131-5 despite a fighting fifty by former captain MS Dhoni (50 off 38).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-smashes-first-ipl-fifty-in-two-years-to-rescue-csks-sinking-ship-against-kkr-465779">Dhoni smashes first IPL fifty in two years to rescue CSK's sinking ship vs KKR</a> 
 
Ravindra Jadeja (26 off 28) who was leading the CSK for the very first time looked under pressure while batting but former skipper Dhoni scored a timely half-century and added 70 runs for the sixth wicket to take Chennai to a respectable total. 
 
In reply, opener Ajinkya Rahane played a fine knock (44 off 34) while Sam Billings (25), Nitish Rana (20) and Shreyas Iyer (20 not out) also made valuable contributions with the bat as KKR chased down the target in 18.3 overs with six wickets in hand.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-csks-ravindra-jadeja-register-unique-record-in-opener-against-kkr-465774" hreflang="en">IPL 2022: CSK's Ravindra Jadeja registers unique record in opener against KKR</a> 
 
Dwayne Bravo was the most successful bowler for CSK with his figures of 3/20. 
 
Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings -- 131-5 in 20 Overs (MS Dhoni 50 not out, Robin Uthappa 28; Umesh Yadav 2/20) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders -- 133-4 in 18.3 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 44, Sam Billings 25; Dwayne Bravo 3/20) by 6 wickets

A brilliant bowling performance followed by an impactful batting effort helped Kolkata Knight Riders beat Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in the opening match of the IPL 2022 at the Wankhede Stadium, here on Saturday.

A brilliant bowling performance followed by an impactful batting effort helped Kolkata Knight Riders beat Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in the opening match of the IPL 2022 at the Wankhede Stadium, here on Saturday. KKR bowlers -- Umesh Yadav (2/20) and Varun Chakaravarthy (1/23) bowled well and restricted Chennai Super Kings to 131-5 despite a fighting fifty by former captain MS Dhoni (50 off 38). Also read | Dhoni smashes first IPL fifty in two years to rescue CSK's sinking ship vs KKR Ravindra Jadeja (26 off 28) who was leading the CSK for the very first time looked under pressure while batting but former skipper Dhoni scored a timely half-century and added 70 runs for the sixth wicket to take Chennai to a respectable total. In reply, opener Ajinkya Rahane played a fine knock (44 off 34) while Sam Billings (25), Nitish Rana (20) and Shreyas Iyer (20 not out) also made valuable contributions with the bat as KKR chased down the target in 18.3 overs with six wickets in hand. Also read | IPL 2022: CSK's Ravindra Jadeja registers unique record in opener against KKR Dwayne Bravo was the most successful bowler for CSK with his figures of 3/20. Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings -- 131-5 in 20 Overs (MS Dhoni 50 not out, Robin Uthappa 28; Umesh Yadav 2/20) lost to Kolkata Knight Riders -- 133-4 in 18.3 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 44, Sam Billings 25; Dwayne Bravo 3/20) by 6 wickets

IPL 2022: Ajinkya Rahane, Umesh Yadav guide KKR to victory over CSK in opener

The BCCI on Saturday felicitated Tokyo Olympians, including gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, with cash awards ahead of the IPL opener between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders here.

The Board handed Chopra a cheque of Rs 1 crore while Tokyo Games bronze medal-winning boxer Lovlina Borgohain was given Rs 25 lakh for her achievement.

The men's hockey team, which had also won a historic bronze medal at the quadrennial multi-sport event in Tokyo, was also handed a combined cheque of Rs 1 crore.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-to-not-make-yo-yo-test-more-difficult-considering-players-mental-health-465717">BCCI to not make Yo-Yo test more difficult considering players'&nbsp;mental health</a>

Captain Manpreet Singh picked up the cheque from BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly in the presence of Board Secretary Jay Shah.

The BCCI had earlier announced cash awards for the medal winners at the Tokyo Olympics.

The BCCI on Saturday felicitated Tokyo Olympians, including gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, with cash awards ahead of the IPL opener between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders here.

The BCCI on Saturday felicitated Tokyo Olympians, including gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, with cash awards ahead of the IPL opener between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders here. The Board handed Chopra a cheque of Rs 1 crore while Tokyo Games bronze medal-winning boxer Lovlina Borgohain was given Rs 25 lakh for her achievement. The men's hockey team, which had also won a historic bronze medal at the quadrennial multi-sport event in Tokyo, was also handed a combined cheque of Rs 1 crore. ALSO READ: BCCI to not make Yo-Yo test more difficult considering players' mental health Captain Manpreet Singh picked up the cheque from BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly in the presence of Board Secretary Jay Shah. The BCCI had earlier announced cash awards for the medal winners at the Tokyo Olympics.

BCCI felicitates Tokyo Olympians, including gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, ahead of CSK vs KKR opening clash

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) wicket-keeper Sheldon Jackson earned high praise from legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar after producing a lightning quick stumping to dismiss Robin Uthappa during the Indian Premier League (IPL) opener against Chennai Super Kings on Saturday.<o:p></o:p>

Sachin compared him to MS Dhoni and wrote on his official Twitter account - "That was an outstanding stumping. @ShelJackson27’s speed reminded me of @msdhoni. Lightning fast!!".

<o:p></o:p>

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That was an outstanding stumping. <a href="https://twitter.com/ShelJackson27?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShelJackson27</a>’s speed reminded me of <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a>. 
 
Lightning fast!! ⚡️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSKvKKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSKvKKR</a>
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1507731348705865732?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Robin Uthappa was tricked by Varun Chakravarty in the eighth over of the Chennai Super Kings innings as the ball skidded off the track and Uthappa missed it completely after stepping out of the crease. Jackson was on the ball in a flash and took off the bails neatly in complete the dismissal. <o:p></o:p>

Meanwhile former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh had a unique advice for Jackson.<o:p></o:p>

"Dear #SheldonJackson please wear a helmet when u keeping to spinners! You are a very talented player and have a golden opportunity after a long time be safe!!! And all the best, " said Yuvraj.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-smashes-first-ipl-fifty-in-two-years-to-rescue-csks-sinking-ship-against-kkr-465779">Dhoni smashes first IPL fifty in two years to rescue CSK's sinking ship vs KKR</a><o:p></o:p>

KKR went with two special wicketkeepers in the IPL 2022 opener with Jackson keeping the wickets and England’s Sam Billings playing as a specialist batsman. Jackson, who has been a part of KKR for quite some time, was bought in the auctions for INR 60 lakhs.<o:p></o:p>

The KKR bowlers performed quite well but MS Dhoni fought back with a brilliant half century as CSK posted 131/5 in 20 overs. Umesh Yadav took two wickets in the beginning while Varun Chakravarty and Andre Russell took one wicket each as KKR dominated most of the innings in the encounter.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) wicket-keeper Sheldon Jackson earned high praise from legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar after producing a lightning quick stumping to dismiss Robin Uthappa during the Indian Premier League (IPL) opener against Chennai Super Kings on Saturday.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) wicket-keeper Sheldon Jackson earned high praise from legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar after producing a lightning quick stumping to dismiss Robin Uthappa during the Indian Premier League (IPL) opener against Chennai Super Kings on Saturday. Sachin compared him to MS Dhoni and wrote on his official Twitter account - "That was an outstanding stumping. @ShelJackson27’s speed reminded me of @msdhoni. Lightning fast!!". That was an outstanding stumping. @ShelJackson27’s speed reminded me of @msdhoni. Lightning fast!! ⚡️#CSKvKKR — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 26, 2022 × Robin Uthappa was tricked by Varun Chakravarty in the eighth over of the Chennai Super Kings innings as the ball skidded off the track and Uthappa missed it completely after stepping out of the crease. Jackson was on the ball in a flash and took off the bails neatly in complete the dismissal. Meanwhile former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh had a unique advice for Jackson. "Dear #SheldonJackson please wear a helmet when u keeping to spinners! You are a very talented player and have a golden opportunity after a long time be safe!!! And all the best, " said Yuvraj. Also read | Dhoni smashes first IPL fifty in two years to rescue CSK's sinking ship vs KKR KKR went with two special wicketkeepers in the IPL 2022 opener with Jackson keeping the wickets and England’s Sam Billings playing as a specialist batsman. Jackson, who has been a part of KKR for quite some time, was bought in the auctions for INR 60 lakhs. The KKR bowlers performed quite well but MS Dhoni fought back with a brilliant half century as CSK posted 131/5 in 20 overs. Umesh Yadav took two wickets in the beginning while Varun Chakravarty and Andre Russell took one wicket each as KKR dominated most of the innings in the encounter.

IPL 2022: ‘Reminded me of MS Dhoni’ – Sachin Tendulkar’s high praise for KKR’s Sheldon Jackson

MS Dhoni has been the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper since the Indian Premier League (IPL) started way back in 2008. The veteran wicket-keeper batsman had a brilliant run as CSK captain and he guided the franchise to four IPL titles and two Champions League T20 titles during his time.<o:p></o:p>

However, this season will be different as all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja succeeded him as the CSK skipper after Dhoni decided to step down from the position ahead of the 2022 season.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-am-not-surprised-ab-de-villiers-reacts-to-ms-dhoni-handing-over-csk-captaincy-to-ravindra-jadeja-465741" hreflang="en">AB de Villiers reacts to Dhoni handing over CSK captaincy to Jadeja</a>

Both Jadeja and Dhoni were retained by the franchise ahead of the mega auction along with Moeen Ali and opener Ruturaj Gaikwad who was the top scorer for the side in the 2021 season.<o:p></o:p>

Jadeja had to wait 200 games to get his first game as captain - a record in the IPL. The previous record belonged to Manish Pandey who played 153 games before leading Sunrisers Hyderabad.<o:p></o:p>

200 – Ravindra Jadeja<o:p></o:p>

153 – Manish Pandey<o:p></o:p>

137 – Kieron Pollard<o:p></o:p>

111 – Ravichandran Ashwin<o:p></o:p>

107 – Sanju Samson<o:p></o:p>

103 – Bhuvneshwar Kumar<o:p></o:p>

Chennai Super Kings went with four overseas players in the form of Devon Conway, Dwayne Bravo, Adam Milne and Mitchell Santner. They are missing the services of Deepak Chahar who is suffering from a quadriceps injury while Moeen Ali arrived late due to visa complications.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dont-expect-me-in-strategy-meetings-former-ipl-coach-recalls-his-first-conversation-with-ms-dhoni-465675" hreflang="en">'Don't advice me until I ask for': Ex-IPL coach on conversation with Dhoni</a>

"Big shoes to fill in. Happy and excited for the new role,” Jadeja said at the toss.<o:p></o:p>

Jadeja had a great run in form during the Test series against Sri Lanka and thanks to his brilliant show, he claimed the top spot in the ICC Test rankings for all-rounders. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

MS Dhoni has been the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper since the Indian Premier League (IPL) started way back in 2008. The veteran wicket-keeper batsman had a brilliant run as CSK captain and he guided the franchise to four IPL titles and two Champions League T20 titles during his time.

MS Dhoni has been the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper since the Indian Premier League (IPL) started way back in 2008. The veteran wicket-keeper batsman had a brilliant run as CSK captain and he guided the franchise to four IPL titles and two Champions League T20 titles during his time. However, this season will be different as all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja succeeded him as the CSK skipper after Dhoni decided to step down from the position ahead of the 2022 season. Also read | AB de Villiers reacts to Dhoni handing over CSK captaincy to Jadeja Both Jadeja and Dhoni were retained by the franchise ahead of the mega auction along with Moeen Ali and opener Ruturaj Gaikwad who was the top scorer for the side in the 2021 season. Jadeja had to wait 200 games to get his first game as captain - a record in the IPL. The previous record belonged to Manish Pandey who played 153 games before leading Sunrisers Hyderabad. 200 – Ravindra Jadeja 153 – Manish Pandey 137 – Kieron Pollard 111 – Ravichandran Ashwin 107 – Sanju Samson 103 – Bhuvneshwar Kumar Chennai Super Kings went with four overseas players in the form of Devon Conway, Dwayne Bravo, Adam Milne and Mitchell Santner. They are missing the services of Deepak Chahar who is suffering from a quadriceps injury while Moeen Ali arrived late due to visa complications. Also read | 'Don't advice me until I ask for': Ex-IPL coach on conversation with Dhoni "Big shoes to fill in. Happy and excited for the new role,” Jadeja said at the toss. Jadeja had a great run in form during the Test series against Sri Lanka and thanks to his brilliant show, he claimed the top spot in the ICC Test rankings for all-rounders.

IPL 2022: CSK's Ravindra Jadeja registers unique record in opener against KKR

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will face Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening clash of IPL 2022 as this will going to&nbsp;be a repeat of last year's final. CSK won their fourth title in the previous meeting while KKR will look to seek revenge for losing the IPL 2021 final.

Both teams have been slightly affected as some of the overseas players will be joining the team late. Visa issues have delayed star all-rounder Moeen Ali's arrival and he will be unavailable for the first match. KKR will be without the services of Tim Southee and Pat Cummins for the first few games.

But the big news is Mahendra Singh Dhoni stepping down as CSK captain as Ravindra Jadeja will be leading the team from now on. KKR also has a new skipper&nbsp;in Shreyas Iyer who will try to make a winning start to the tournament.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-crickets-crown-jewel-the-ipl-is-back-home-bigger-better-and-longer-465657">Indian cricket's crown jewel, the IPL, is back home: bigger, better and longer</a>

Let's take a look at the means on how to live stream or view the match:&nbsp;

Where is the IPL 2022&nbsp;match between Chennai Super Kings&nbsp;vs Kolkata Knight Riders&nbsp;taking place?

The IPL 2022&nbsp;match between&nbsp;Chennai Super Kings&nbsp;vs Kolkata Knight Riders will take place at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

What time does the IPL 2022&nbsp;match between&nbsp;Chennai Super Kings&nbsp;vs Kolkata Knight Riders begin?

The IPL 2022&nbsp;match between&nbsp;Chennai Super Kings&nbsp;vs Kolkata Knight Riders begins at 7:30 PM IST&nbsp;on Saturday, March 26.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-csk-vs-kkr-head-to-head-record-trivia-stats-and-squads-465662">IPL 2022: CSK vs KKR - Head to head record, trivia, stats and squads</a>

Where and how to watch live coverage of the IPL 2022&nbsp;match between Chennai Super Kings&nbsp;vs Kolkata Knight Riders?

The IPL 2022&nbsp;match between&nbsp;Chennai Super Kings&nbsp;vs Kolkata Knight Riders will be aired live on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 3 HD. The online streaming of the IPL 2022&nbsp;match between CSK vs KKR&nbsp;will be available on Hotstar.

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will face Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening clash of IPL 2022 as this will going to be a repeat of last year's final. CSK won their fourth title in the previous meeting while KKR will look to seek revenge for losing the IPL 2021 final.

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will face Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening clash of IPL 2022 as this will going to be a repeat of last year's final. CSK won their fourth title in the previous meeting while KKR will look to seek revenge for losing the IPL 2021 final. Both teams have been slightly affected as some of the overseas players will be joining the team late. Visa issues have delayed star all-rounder Moeen Ali's arrival and he will be unavailable for the first match. KKR will be without the services of Tim Southee and Pat Cummins for the first few games. But the big news is Mahendra Singh Dhoni stepping down as CSK captain as Ravindra Jadeja will be leading the team from now on. KKR also has a new skipper in Shreyas Iyer who will try to make a winning start to the tournament. ALSO READ: Indian cricket's crown jewel, the IPL, is back home: bigger, better and longer Let's take a look at the means on how to live stream or view the match: Where is the IPL 2022 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders taking place? The IPL 2022 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders will take place at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. What time does the IPL 2022 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders begin? The IPL 2022 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders begins at 7:30 PM IST on Saturday, March 26. ALSO READ: IPL 2022: CSK vs KKR - Head to head record, trivia, stats and squads Where and how to watch live coverage of the IPL 2022 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders? The IPL 2022 match between Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders will be aired live on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports 3 HD. The online streaming of the IPL 2022 match between CSK vs KKR will be available on Hotstar.

IPL 2022, CSK vs KKR, Live Streaming: When and where to watch Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders?

MS Dhoni has been captaining the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) side since the start of Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. However, the veteran wicket-keeper batsman decided to step down from his position and he was replaced with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the 2022 season.<o:p></o:p>

Former CSK cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath believes that Jadeja has improved a lot as all all-round cricketer but his captaincy is something ‘to be looked at’ as he has never done it before.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-vs-kkr-ipl-2022-prediction-today-who-will-win-chennai-super-kings-vs-kolkata-knight-riders-match-465639" hreflang="en">CSK vs KKR prediction: Who will win today's IPL 2022 opener?</a>

"Jadeja has always been a bowler but in the last two years, he has improved as a batsman tremendously. The biggest part of his game in which he has improved is his batting. His batting has made him a proper all-rounder, a proper 3D cricketer", the 41-year-old said told Times Now.<o:p></o:p>

"Now there's a fourth dimension as well. He will be a 4D cricketer because captaincy is also there. The only thing is that he has never led any team, even in First-Class cricket. That is the only thing that needs to be looked at. As for his value to the team, we all know it."

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/new-look-opening-pair-kkrs-predicted-playing-xi-for-ipl-2022-opener-against-csk-465699" hreflang="en">New look opening pair? KKR's predicted XI for IPL 2022 opener against CSK</a>

"The thing is, he already has the load. He has to be fielding in the hotspot. He has to do bowling, batting, and now there's captaincy also", he further added while taking about the developement.”<o:p></o:p>

Jadeja had a brilliant run of form in the Test series against Sri Lanka and thanks to his brilliant show, he was able to claim the top spot in the ICC all-rounders rankings ahead of the new season.

CSK will begin their IPL 2022 campaign against last year's finalists Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday.<o:p></o:p>

MS Dhoni has been captaining the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) side since the start of Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. However, the veteran wicket-keeper batsman decided to step down from his position and he was replaced with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the 2022 season.

MS Dhoni has been captaining the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) side since the start of Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. However, the veteran wicket-keeper batsman decided to step down from his position and he was replaced with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the 2022 season. Former CSK cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath believes that Jadeja has improved a lot as all all-round cricketer but his captaincy is something ‘to be looked at’ as he has never done it before. Also read | CSK vs KKR prediction: Who will win today's IPL 2022 opener? "Jadeja has always been a bowler but in the last two years, he has improved as a batsman tremendously. The biggest part of his game in which he has improved is his batting. His batting has made him a proper all-rounder, a proper 3D cricketer", the 41-year-old said told Times Now. "Now there's a fourth dimension as well. He will be a 4D cricketer because captaincy is also there. The only thing is that he has never led any team, even in First-Class cricket. That is the only thing that needs to be looked at. As for his value to the team, we all know it." Also read | New look opening pair? KKR's predicted XI for IPL 2022 opener against CSK "The thing is, he already has the load. He has to be fielding in the hotspot. He has to do bowling, batting, and now there's captaincy also", he further added while taking about the developement.” Jadeja had a brilliant run of form in the Test series against Sri Lanka and thanks to his brilliant show, he was able to claim the top spot in the ICC all-rounders rankings ahead of the new season. CSK will begin their IPL 2022 campaign against last year's finalists Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday.

IPL 2022: Former CSK star has his say on Ravindra Jadeja's captaincy appointment

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season gets underway on Saturday with defending champions Chennai Super Kings taking on last year’s finalists Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai.<o:p></o:p>

Both teams will have new captains with Shreyas Iyer leading KKR and Ravindra Jadeja taking over the leadership position from MS Dhoni.

The two franchises&nbsp;will also be missing a host of prominent players due to a number of restrictions – Tim Southee, Pat Cummins and Aaron Finch for KKR while CSK will be without England all-rounder Moeen Ali and the injured fast bowler Deepak Chahar.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/new-look-opening-pair-kkrs-predicted-playing-xi-for-ipl-2022-opener-against-csk-465699" hreflang="en">New look opening pair? KKR's predicted XI for IPL 2022 opener against CSK</a>

Former Indian cricket team spinner Harbhajan Singh, who has played for both KKR and CSK, picked a winner ahead of the encounter. In a conversation with Sportskeeda, Harbhajan said that KKR have a number of young players in their arsenal and he added that KKR will emerge victorious on Saturday.<o:p></o:p>

“I think it’s KKR because they are a young side and boast decent players. They have good hitters along with two quality spinners. Hence, I feel KKR will beat CSK,” Harbhajan was quoted as saying.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-kevin-conway-to-open-csks-predicted-playing-xi-for-opener-against-kkr-465681" hreflang="en">Conway to open? CSK's predicted playing XI for IPL 2022 opener against KKR</a>

“Both teams have a special place. Both franchises took care of me when I played for them. When I played for CSK, the fans poured in all their love. I was with the KKR side last year. Although I didn’t play much due to fitness issues, I tried to help them mentally as much as possible. Both teams have given me immense love but if I have to pick one team that will win, I will have to go with KKR. They have the right team to win,” he added.<o:p></o:p>

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season gets underway on Saturday with defending champions Chennai Super Kings taking on last year’s finalists Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season gets underway on Saturday with defending champions Chennai Super Kings taking on last year’s finalists Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai. Both teams will have new captains with Shreyas Iyer leading KKR and Ravindra Jadeja taking over the leadership position from MS Dhoni. The two franchises will also be missing a host of prominent players due to a number of restrictions – Tim Southee, Pat Cummins and Aaron Finch for KKR while CSK will be without England all-rounder Moeen Ali and the injured fast bowler Deepak Chahar. Also read | New look opening pair? KKR's predicted XI for IPL 2022 opener against CSK Former Indian cricket team spinner Harbhajan Singh, who has played for both KKR and CSK, picked a winner ahead of the encounter. In a conversation with Sportskeeda, Harbhajan said that KKR have a number of young players in their arsenal and he added that KKR will emerge victorious on Saturday. “I think it’s KKR because they are a young side and boast decent players. They have good hitters along with two quality spinners. Hence, I feel KKR will beat CSK,” Harbhajan was quoted as saying. Also read | Conway to open? CSK's predicted playing XI for IPL 2022 opener against KKR “Both teams have a special place. Both franchises took care of me when I played for them. When I played for CSK, the fans poured in all their love. I was with the KKR side last year. Although I didn’t play much due to fitness issues, I tried to help them mentally as much as possible. Both teams have given me immense love but if I have to pick one team that will win, I will have to go with KKR. They have the right team to win,” he added.

IPL 2022: Harbhajan Singh explains why KKR start as favourites against CSK

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will look for some revenge when they take on defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 opener on Saturday. <o:p></o:p>

KKR started quite poorly last season but a quick turnaround in the UAE leg of the tournament saw them qualifying for the final. However, they were completely outplayed by MS Dhoni &amp; Co as they marched on their fourth IPL title thanks to Faf du Plessis and all-rounder Shardul Thakur.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-kevin-conway-to-open-csks-predicted-playing-xi-for-opener-against-kkr-465681" hreflang="en">Conway to open? CSK's predicted playing XI for IPL 2022 opener against KKR</a><o:p></o:p>

This season, KKR will be under new leadership as big money signing Shreyas Iyer will be at the helm of affairs and there will be quite a number of new faces in the squad. However, they will be without the services of Pat Cummins, Tim Southee and Aaron Finch as they take on Chennai Super Kings.<o:p></o:p>

Venkatesh Iyer is expected to open the batting for KKR after having a brilliant season in 2021 and he will most likely be joined by veteran Ajinkya Rahane. Shreyas will take his familiar place at No 3 with Nitish Rana coming to bat at No 4 and wicket-keeper batsman Sam Billings at No. 5.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-vs-kkr-ipl-2022-prediction-today-who-will-win-chennai-super-kings-vs-kolkata-knight-riders-match-465639" hreflang="en">CSK vs KKR prediction: Who will win today's IPL 2022 opener?</a>

When it comes to the all-rounders, the West Indies duo of Andre Russell and Sunil Narine will retain their positions and Sri Lanka’s Chamika Karunaratne is expected to make his debut for his new side.<o:p></o:p>

In the bowling department, it will be mix of old and new as Umesh Yadav is expected to play for KKR along with young pacer Shivam Mavi and the mystery spinner Varun Chakravarty.<o:p></o:p>

KKR Predicted XI: Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana, Sam Billings, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Chamika Karunaratne, Shivam Mavi, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy<o:p></o:p>

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will look for some revenge when they take on defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 opener on Saturday.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will look for some revenge when they take on defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 opener on Saturday. KKR started quite poorly last season but a quick turnaround in the UAE leg of the tournament saw them qualifying for the final. However, they were completely outplayed by MS Dhoni & Co as they marched on their fourth IPL title thanks to Faf du Plessis and all-rounder Shardul Thakur. Also read | Conway to open? CSK's predicted playing XI for IPL 2022 opener against KKR This season, KKR will be under new leadership as big money signing Shreyas Iyer will be at the helm of affairs and there will be quite a number of new faces in the squad. However, they will be without the services of Pat Cummins, Tim Southee and Aaron Finch as they take on Chennai Super Kings. Venkatesh Iyer is expected to open the batting for KKR after having a brilliant season in 2021 and he will most likely be joined by veteran Ajinkya Rahane. Shreyas will take his familiar place at No 3 with Nitish Rana coming to bat at No 4 and wicket-keeper batsman Sam Billings at No. 5. Also read | CSK vs KKR prediction: Who will win today's IPL 2022 opener? When it comes to the all-rounders, the West Indies duo of Andre Russell and Sunil Narine will retain their positions and Sri Lanka’s Chamika Karunaratne is expected to make his debut for his new side. In the bowling department, it will be mix of old and new as Umesh Yadav is expected to play for KKR along with young pacer Shivam Mavi and the mystery spinner Varun Chakravarty. KKR Predicted XI: Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana, Sam Billings, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Chamika Karunaratne, Shivam Mavi, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

New look opening pair? KKR's predicted playing XI for IPL 2022 opener against CSK

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will be going into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 against last year’s finalists Kolkata Knight Riders with two significant gaps in their playing XI.

Deepak Chahar, who was the most expensive buy for CSK in the auction this year, will be missing a major chunk of the tournament after picking up a quadriceps injury while England all-rounder Moeen Ali was also ruled out of the season opener after arriving late due to visa issues.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-csk-vs-kkr-head-to-head-record-trivia-stats-and-squads-465662">IPL 2022: CSK vs KKR - Head-to-Head&nbsp;record, trivia, stats and squads</a>

It will also be the first match as captain for all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja after MS Dhoni stepped down from the role ahead of the tournament. Dhoni led the franchise since the start of the tournament in 2008 and the pressure will be on Jadeja to prove his mettle as the new leader of the franchise.

With no Faf du Plessis this year, New Zealand opener Devon&nbsp;Conway is expected to open the batting along with young star Ruturaj Gaikwad. The middle-order will see a number of familiar CSK faces in Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa but the new addition will be the all-rounder Shivam Dube.

Dube was picked up in the auction for INR 4 crore and he is expected to bat at No. 5 ahead of veteran MS Dhoni and the all-rounder duo of skipper Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-vs-kkr-ipl-2022-prediction-today-who-will-win-chennai-super-kings-vs-kolkata-knight-riders-match-465639" hreflang="en">CSK vs KKR prediction: Who will win today's IPL 2022 opener?</a>

In the bowling department, Adam Milne is expected to lead the pack in the absence of Chahar and he will be joined by youngster Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana.

CSK predicted XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon&nbsp;Conway, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Adam Milne, Maheesh Theekshana

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will be going into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 against last year’s finalists Kolkata Knight Riders with two significant gaps in their playing XI.

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will be going into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 against last year’s finalists Kolkata Knight Riders with two significant gaps in their playing XI. Deepak Chahar, who was the most expensive buy for CSK in the auction this year, will be missing a major chunk of the tournament after picking up a quadriceps injury while England all-rounder Moeen Ali was also ruled out of the season opener after arriving late due to visa issues. Also read | IPL 2022: CSK vs KKR - Head-to-Head record, trivia, stats and squads It will also be the first match as captain for all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja after MS Dhoni stepped down from the role ahead of the tournament. Dhoni led the franchise since the start of the tournament in 2008 and the pressure will be on Jadeja to prove his mettle as the new leader of the franchise. With no Faf du Plessis this year, New Zealand opener Devon Conway is expected to open the batting along with young star Ruturaj Gaikwad. The middle-order will see a number of familiar CSK faces in Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa but the new addition will be the all-rounder Shivam Dube. Dube was picked up in the auction for INR 4 crore and he is expected to bat at No. 5 ahead of veteran MS Dhoni and the all-rounder duo of skipper Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo. Also read | CSK vs KKR prediction: Who will win today's IPL 2022 opener? In the bowling department, Adam Milne is expected to lead the pack in the absence of Chahar and he will be joined by youngster Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana. CSK predicted XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Adam Milne, Maheesh Theekshana

Devon Conway to open with Ruturaj Gaikwad? CSK's predicted playing XI for IPL 2022 opener against KKR

It will mark a new dawn in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when Ravindra Jadeja and Shreyas Iyer lead their respective teams out in the opening game of IPL 2022 on Saturday (March 26). While Jadeja will be in charge of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) having replaced the legendary MS Dhoni at the helm, Iyer will be captaining the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the first time.

The two teams had last met in the final of IPL 2022 last year where CSK came out on top against KKR to lift their fourth IPL trophy. Dhoni is no more in charge of the side but will continue being a leader in the CSK squad and play as a pure wicket-keeper batter this season.

Eoin Morgan, who had led KKR to the final last season, is no more part of the squad. KKR have revamped their team significantly with the additions of the likes of Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Sam Billings, Chamika Karunaratne and Aaron Finch among others this time around.

CSK, meanwhile have managed to retain their core squad from their title-winning campaign last year as they have managed to get back the likes of Ambati Rayudu, Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo and Robin Uthappa among others. Both teams will be missing the services of a couple of their key players in the opener.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-vs-kkr-ipl-2022-prediction-today-who-will-win-chennai-super-kings-vs-kolkata-knight-riders-match-465639">CSK vs KKR, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders match?</a>

While CSK will be without the services of injured Deepak Chahar and all-rounder Moeen Ali due to quarantine guidelines, KKR will not have Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins for their first game of the season. Nonetheless, both teams will be looking to make a winning start to their campaign at the Wankhede Stadium.

Here is all you need to know about IPL 2022 opener between CSK and KKR:

Head to head:

Chennai Super Kings hold a clear edge over the Kolkata Knight Riders when it comes to the head to head record between the two sides. CSK have won a staggering 14 time in 25 meetings between the two teams so far in the IPL. KKR have just eight wins to their name against CSK.

Stats:

Former CSK captain MS Dhoni holds the record for most runs against KKR by any CSK batter in the current squad. Dhoni has 501 runs in 29 matches against KKR. KKR's Andre Russell is the highest run-getter against CSK from the current KKR squad.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-and-virat-kohli-share-a-heartwarming-hug-as-legends-catch-up-ahead-of-ipl-2022-opener-watch-465629">MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli share a heartwarming hug as legends catch up ahead of IPL 2022 opener - WATCH</a>

Trivia:

Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders last met in the final of the Indian Premier League in 2021. MS Dhoni-led CSK defeated KKR by 27 runs in the final to lift their fourth IPL trophy at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai.

Squads:

Chennai Super Kings: Ravindra Jadeja (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, Devon Conway, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Jordan, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Maheesh Theekshana, Adam Milne, Mitchell Santner, Tushar Deshpande, Hari Nishanth, N Jagadeesan, Subhranshu Senapati, Prashant Solanki, Mukesh Choudhary, KM Asif, Simarjeet Singh, Bhagath Varma

Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (c), Sam Billings (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Chamika Karunaratne, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Umesh Yadav, Rasikh Salam, Mohammad Nabi, Sheldon Jackson, Baba Indrajith, Rinku Singh, Tim Southee, Anukul Roy, Pratham Singh, Abhijeet Tomar, Aman Hakim Khan, Ashok Sharma, Ramesh Kumar 
&nbsp;

It will mark a new dawn in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when Ravindra Jadeja and Shreyas Iyer lead their respective teams out in the opening game of IPL 2022 on Saturday (March 26).

It will mark a new dawn in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when Ravindra Jadeja and Shreyas Iyer lead their respective teams out in the opening game of IPL 2022 on Saturday (March 26). While Jadeja will be in charge of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) having replaced the legendary MS Dhoni at the helm, Iyer will be captaining the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the first time. The two teams had last met in the final of IPL 2022 last year where CSK came out on top against KKR to lift their fourth IPL trophy. Dhoni is no more in charge of the side but will continue being a leader in the CSK squad and play as a pure wicket-keeper batter this season. Eoin Morgan, who had led KKR to the final last season, is no more part of the squad. KKR have revamped their team significantly with the additions of the likes of Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Sam Billings, Chamika Karunaratne and Aaron Finch among others this time around. CSK, meanwhile have managed to retain their core squad from their title-winning campaign last year as they have managed to get back the likes of Ambati Rayudu, Deepak Chahar, Dwayne Bravo and Robin Uthappa among others. Both teams will be missing the services of a couple of their key players in the opener. Also Read: CSK vs KKR, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders match? While CSK will be without the services of injured Deepak Chahar and all-rounder Moeen Ali due to quarantine guidelines, KKR will not have Aaron Finch and Pat Cummins for their first game of the season. Nonetheless, both teams will be looking to make a winning start to their campaign at the Wankhede Stadium. Here is all you need to know about IPL 2022 opener between CSK and KKR: Head to head: Chennai Super Kings hold a clear edge over the Kolkata Knight Riders when it comes to the head to head record between the two sides. CSK have won a staggering 14 time in 25 meetings between the two teams so far in the IPL. KKR have just eight wins to their name against CSK. Stats: Former CSK captain MS Dhoni holds the record for most runs against KKR by any CSK batter in the current squad. Dhoni has 501 runs in 29 matches against KKR. KKR's Andre Russell is the highest run-getter against CSK from the current KKR squad. Also Read: MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli share a heartwarming hug as legends catch up ahead of IPL 2022 opener - WATCH Trivia: Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders last met in the final of the Indian Premier League in 2021. MS Dhoni-led CSK defeated KKR by 27 runs in the final to lift their fourth IPL trophy at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. Squads: Chennai Super Kings: Ravindra Jadeja (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, Devon Conway, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Jordan, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Maheesh Theekshana, Adam Milne, Mitchell Santner, Tushar Deshpande, Hari Nishanth, N Jagadeesan, Subhranshu Senapati, Prashant Solanki, Mukesh Choudhary, KM Asif, Simarjeet Singh, Bhagath Varma Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (c), Sam Billings (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Chamika Karunaratne, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Umesh Yadav, Rasikh Salam, Mohammad Nabi, Sheldon Jackson, Baba Indrajith, Rinku Singh, Tim Southee, Anukul Roy, Pratham Singh, Abhijeet Tomar, Aman Hakim Khan, Ashok Sharma, Ramesh Kumar

IPL 2022: CSK vs KKR - Head to head record, trivia, stats and squads