Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are taking on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 42 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The match is taking place at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Noteworthy changes have been made to KKR’s starting lineup for this game, with the notable absence of veteran fast bowler Mitchell Starc.
Reason behind Mitchell Starc’s absence
Punjab captain Sam Curran won the toss and opted to field first. Punjab were also without their regular skipper Shikhar Dhawan. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer, the skipper of KKR, revealed the reason that led to the absence of Starc in the final XI.
Iyer revealed that Starc got a cut on his finger in the last game and hence he was unable to participate in the contest against Punjab. Iyer also pointed out, one of the hallmarks of KKR’s campaign this season has been their ability to adapt to challenges and thrive in the face of adversity. With different players stepping up at different times, KKR has showcased a depth in talent that bodes well for their prospects in the remainder of the tournament.
Sri Lankan star replaces Starc
Starc, known for his lethal pace and ability to swing the ball both ways, has not been able to leave his impact in the ongoing 17th season of the cash-rich league. Despite that, his absence raised questions about how KKR will adapt to this setback and who will step up to fill the void left by the Australian speedster.
In his stead, Sri Lankan pacer Dushmantha Chameera has been tasked with shouldering the responsibility of leading the pace attack for KKR. Chameera, known for his raw pace and ability to generate bounce on even the most docile surfaces, brings a different dimension to KKR’s bowling lineup.
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“We’ve had different players stepping up at different times, that’s the thing I’m pleased about this season. Starcy got a cut on his finger in the last game, Dushmantha Chameera replaces him. Need a great start and then convert it into a big score, hoping to continue the same form and momentum,” said Iyer at the toss.
Playing XIs of both teams:
Kolkata Knight Riders: Philip Salt (wk), Sunil Narine, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Shreyas Iyer (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Dushmantha Chameera, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana
Impact Subs: Suyash Sharma, Anukul Roy, Manish Pandey, Vaibhav Arora, Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Punjab Kings: Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran (c), Rilee Rossouw, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
Impact Subs: Prabhsimran Singh, Rishi Dhawan, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Shivam Singh, Prince Choudhary
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