Must-win game for Sunrisers and KKR to remain in hunt for the playoffs  

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Our Predictions 

• Kolkata Knight Riders have lost five out of their last six games, and the side is battling poor form 
• KKR's bowlers have been in poor form, and they have conceded more than 180 runs in seven games  
• Sunrisers Hyderabad's Mayank Markande is in good form with the ball and tilts the balance in the side's favor  

MATCH PREVIEW     

It will be a do-or-die battle for both sides in the 47th game of the Indian Premier League 2023. Hosts Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders have 6 points each and need to win this one to keep their hopes alive for a berth in the playoffs. Sunrisers defeated the Delhi Capitals in the last game to gain some confidence. The Knight Riders had another poor day at the office and lost to the Gujarat Titans by 7 wickets in their last game. Given the stakes involved for both sides in this game, we expect to see an intense battle on the field.  
 

Sunrisers Hyderabad Preview     

Aiden Markram's side kept its hopes alive for a berth in the playoffs with a 9-run victory against the Delhi Capitals. Their bowlers held their nerves in the game's dying stages to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The side has been inconsistent, and Markram would look to put this behind them. They had won the earlier game against KKR, and the Sunrisers' skipper would like his players to draw inspiration from that win.  

Abhishek Sharma did well in the last game, but the side has struggled with the top order. Sharma must deliver a good start along with Mayank Agarwal, who has scored just 169 runs. Rahul Tripathi has done well, and he will need to add runs in the middle order with Markram and Harry Brook. Heinrich Klaasen is a good finisher, and the side will like to see him do well alongside Abdul Samad and Akeal Hosein.  

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Akeal Hosein are experienced bowlers in the format. The side will expect them to strike early as the KKR top order looks rusty. Mayank Markande has been a consistent performer for the team, with 10 wickets in 6 games. There will be a lot riding on his shoulders. Umran Malik has had a poor run and needs to do well in the supporting role along with T Natarajan and Abhishek Sharma.  

Expected Starting XI for Sunrisers Hyderabad     

Aiden Markram (c), Mayank Agarwal, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Harry Brook, Abdul Samad, Mayank Markande, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Akeal Hosein, Umran Malik, T Natarajan (Impact Player)  

Kolkata Knight Riders Preview     

Nitish Rana's side is going from bad to worse. In the last game, they went down by 7 wickets against the Gujarat Titans. It was another display of poor bowling efforts from the team. Their lack of form at the top with the bat has compounded the problems for the side. Rana would like to see runs from his top order and consistency from his bowlers to get over the finishing line in this must-win game.  

Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the lone performer for the team in the last game, and he needs to deliver a good show with N Jagadeesan. Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, and Rinku Singh have scored runs, but the side has failed to build partnerships. The lower middle order hasn't contributed much, and they need it here in this game. Rana would expect runs from Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and David Weise down the order.  

Bowling has been the weak point for the team, and they need early wickets from Harshit Rana and Russell to put the Sunrisers in the dock. Varun Chakaravarthy isn't as good a bowler as he was in the last two seasons, and he needs to do well along with Suyash Sharma and Narine in the middle overs. They have to bowl well to win here.  

Expected Starting XI for Kolkata Knight Riders     

Nitish Rana (c), N Jagadeesan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, David Wiese, Shardul Thakur, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Suyash Sharma (Impact Player)  

TOSS: To Bat First      

It is one of the rare T20 venues in India where sides batting first have an advantage. The wicket slows in the second innings, making life challenging for the batsmen. Thrice in four games, the sides have defended the score successfully. The side winning the toss would take a cue from this and opt to bat first.  

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS      

We expect a warm and humid evening in Hyderabad. There isn't much for the bowlers on this surface as the ball comes to the bat nicely and allows batsmen to play their strokes. Bowlers have to rely on their variations to put pressure on the batsmen. The side batting first shall have a target score of 185 runs to feel safe on this wicket.  

OUR PREDICTION      

Kolkata Knight Riders face a confidence challenge. Their bowlers need to deliver a good show for the side to win, and they will need early wickets. In this tournament, they have done well in bits and pieces and lack consistency. Sunrisers Hyderabad haven't fared any better, and their top order has struggled. We expect a close contest, but Surisers have the home advantage, putting their nose ahead in the game.   

Our Prediction is for Sunrisers Hyderabad to win