Kolkata will lock horns with Hyderabad in the 61^st match of the Indian T20 League on Saturday at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. Shreyas Iyer and Co. haven’t had a great campaign this year. They played the final last year but that might not happen this time around. In 12 matches, Kolkata have 5 wins and another defeat could end their hopes of reaching the playoffs.

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Hyderabad have a pretty solid batting unit. They didn’t start off too well but then bounced back well. Hyderabad currently have 5 wins in 11 matches and the upcoming three games are going to be extremely crucial for them. If they manage to win all the three games, then they can make a top-four finish. As of now, they would be focusing on winning the game on Saturday.

Team News:

Kolkata:

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Kolkata’s chances of reaching the playoffs are hanging by a thread. They won their last game against Mumbai but Pat Cummins has left the bio-bubble. This a big blow for them. Umesh Yadav is likely to replace him, while Aaron Finch could make his way back into the playing XI.

Players to watch out for:

1. Venkatesh Iyer

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Making his return to the playing XI in the last match, Venkatesh Iyer played an outstanding knock of 43 runs in 24 balls, including 3 fours and 4 sixes. His knock set the tone for a good score on the board. The team would expect him to provide a similar start on Saturday as well.

2. Nitish Rana

Nitish Rana batted at number three in the last match and returned to form with a valuable knock of 43 runs in just 26 deliveries. His knock was studded 3 fours and 4 sixes. Number 3 is, perhaps, his preferred slot and you might expect him to play at the position on Saturday as well.

3. Tim Southee

Tim Southee has been bowling really well this season. He has proved to be a great asset for the team. In the last match, the New Zealand pacer conceded only 10 runs and picked 1 wicket as well. In the absence of Pat Cummins, he will have a lot of responsibility on his shoulders.

Probable Playing XI:

Aaron Finch, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Sheldon Jackson (wk), Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Varun Chakaravarthy

Hyderabad:

Hyderabad have a must-win game at hand. They have lost their last four matches and would be eager to get back to winning ways. A defeat from here could hamper their chances of reaching the top-four. Bowling has been as issue for them. Umran Malik could be dropped in the next match and he might be replaced with other Indian pace option.

Players to watch out for:

1. Rahul Tripathi

Rahul Tripathi returned to form with a vital 58-run knock in just 37 balls in the last match. He is in great form this season and will be crucial to the team’s fortune for the rest of the matches.

2. Aiden Markram

Aiden Markram, too, is in top-f0rm with the bat. He struggled on a slow surface in the last match but you expect him to bounce back well. He is currently the second highest run-getter for Hyderabad this season. In 11 matches, he has 326 runs to his name at a strike rate of 142.

3. Nicholas Pooran

Nicholas Pooran has played some top knocks with the bat for the team. The West Indies skipper played a sensational knock against Delhi and almost won the game for the side. For Hyderabad to win on Saturday, he needs to play an impactful knock with the bat, especially given the fact that Williamson is short of runs and the bowling doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence.

Probable Playing XI:

Abhishek Sharma, Kane Williamson (c), Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Shashank Singh, Jagadeesha Suchith, Kartik Tyagi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, T Natarajan

Match Details:

Indian T20 League 2022 Match 61, Kolkata vs Hyderabad

Date: 14th May, 2022

Time: 7:30 PM IST

Venue: Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

Live Streaming: Star Sports Network for Television and Disney + Hotstar app live streaming

Pitch Report:

The 61^st match of the Indian T20 League 2022 is slated to be played between Kolkata and Hyderabad at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. The last game played at this ground was a low-scoring affair between Lucknow and Gujarat.

There is enough for both the pacers and spinners and scoring runs won’t be too easy here. Anything between 160-180 should be a par score. Both teams should look to bowl first upon winning the toss.