IPL 2024 KKR vs SRH playing 11, live telecast, live streaming, telecast

KKR vs SRH IPL 2024 Match 3: Likely playing 11

Kolkata Knight Riders begin their IPL 2024 odyssey at their home ground as they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Kolkata has a new skipper in Shreyas Iyer who missed out last year due to injury. KKR has also got a boost in the arm with the return of their most successful player Gautam Gambhir, this time in the role of mentor. Gambhir, with his wily game reading skills and motivational abilities, is likely to boost the morale of the side.

Meanwhile, SRH squad for the 4th straight year has a new captain and a new coach. Pat Cummins comes in for Aiden Markram while Daniel Vettori replaces Brian Lara. However, SRH would be hoping that the talismanic leadership of Pat Cummins would shore up their bottom-finishes in the last few editions.

The Sunrisers signed Cummins for a whopping 20.5 crores and hope the ODI and Test championship-winning captain can replicate the success in the T20 version of the IPL too.

So, looking at the probable playing eleven of SRH, Cummins walks in as the first overseas player. It's not difficult to pick Klassen next as he has been in phenomenal form in the last 12 months or so. Explosive batter Travis Head too should find a place in the top slot.

SRH would also hope that their Indian batters rise-up to the occasion and better their last year’s performances. Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi pick themselves in the eleven knowing fully well the extent of responsibility on their shoulders. SRH need to chose between Mayank Aggarwal and Abdul Samad and may go with the latter. The fourth international option is a toss up between Aiden Markram, and Wanindu Hasaranga, who could be quite a handful on the Eden Gardens surface. If they stick with Hasaranga, then Washington Sundar should come in at 6 followed by Hasaranga at 7.

Skipper Cummins could come at 8 followed by Bhuvaneshwar Kumar at 9. Umran Malik and T Natrajan should complete their bowling options. If they decide to bolster their spin, Sunrisers have the option Mayank Markande for Natrajan.

If Sunrisers spent big on Cummins, KKR almost emptied their purse on Mitchell Starc – a staggering buy at 20.75 crores. KKR hope that Starc will stymie the run flow at the powerplay for them, however his recent economy in T20s isn’t that inspiring.

KKR’s biggest problem in the last few years has been finding the right opening pair. Venkatesh Iyer and either Gurbaaz or Phil Salt are the top contenders this year.

Shreyas Iyer would lead the middle order comprising him, seasoned Nitish Rana and IPL’s very own Rinku Singh. Andre Russell would add the muscle power followed by Sunil Narine and Mitchell Starc. Harshit Rana at 9 and the spin twin of Varun Chakravarthy and Suyash Sharma would complete their eleven.

SRH Likely Eleven: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, Abdul Samad, Washington Sundar, Pat Cummins, Mayank Markande, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan

KKR Likely Eleven: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Mitchell Starc, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Suyash Sharma.