IPL 2024 – Match 31, KKR vs RR: Ravichandran Ashwin to Make a Comeback? Rajasthan Royals Probable Playing 11 vs Kolkata Knight Riders

The 31st game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 will witness the clash of Kolkata Knight Riders hosting the Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens on April 16 on Tuesday.

Rajasthan Royals in their last game encountered injury issues which forced them to make changes to their settled XI.

Buttler to Skip Another Contest

Jos Buttler is still not fit enough to be a part of this match which means the skipper should move himself up to open with the southpaw Yashasvi Jaiswal.

The middle order of Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer will retain themselves and they will move a position high too in the absence of Buttler.

All these players moved a spot higher to accommodate Rovman Powell into the side which is one of the best finishers going around.

Powell is at his best in the last part of the innings where his superior power game allows him to be the destructive batter the side requires.

Ashwin’s Comeback into RR Playing XI

Ravichandran Ashwin had an extended net session on the eve of the match which indicates he is fit and fine enough to mark his comeback to the side which also means Tanush Kotian will be again back to warm the bench.

Another left-field choice, which could be explored by the team management is to promote Ashwin to open the batting for them. 

Ashwin has shown on numerous occasions he’s perfectly capable of handling the new ball and has the power play strokes which would also allow the rest of the lineup to play at their preferred positions.

Yuzvendra Chahal has been at his best in this tournament and has taken up the load of bowling in the middle and the death overs without compromising his efficiency.

In the absence of Nandre Burger, the pace attack of Rajasthan looks a bit one-dimensional, which means the trio of Trent Boult, Avesh Khan and Kuldeep Sen will have to do a lot of heavy lifting.

Boult has done the job of taking the new ball with ease, while Avesh and Sen are expected to play the role of middle overs enforcers.

Samson has to be very pragmatic in how he manages his resources because his side has been a bit tentative when it comes to the deathovers. He will have to make sure the game is won before it goes into the last part of the innings.

RR Probable Playing XI vs KKR

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(WK,C), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Sen

Impact Player: Keshav Maharaj