• Match: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals, 31st Match, Indian Premier League 2024
• Date and Time: April 16, 02:00 pm GMT / 08:00 pm BD / 07:30 pm local time
• Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

In a recent showdown, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured a resounding victory against the Lucknow Super Giants, triumphing by a notable margin of eight wickets. Opting to field first upon winning the toss, Kolkata’s bowling contingent delivered a commendable performance, conceding 161 runs in 20 overs. Mitchell Starc emerged as a standout performer, snatching three crucial wickets for a mere 18 runs in four overs. Despite conceding 17 runs in his spell, Sunil Narine also managed to contribute with a wicket.

Varun Chakaravarthy exhibited his bowling prowess by claiming a wicket, albeit conceding 30 runs. Vaibhav Arora and Andre Russell also made valuable contributions, each taking a wicket. Kolkata’s batting lineup showcased resilience, efficiently chasing down the target of 162 runs in just 15.4 overs. Philip Salt spearheaded the charge with an unbeaten 89 off 47 deliveries, comprising 14 boundaries and three massive sixes. Skipper Shreyas Iyer played a pivotal role, adding 38 runs to the scoreboard, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Sunil Narine made minor contributions with seven and six runs respectively.

Meanwhile, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) clinched a victory in their recent clash against the Punjab Kings, prevailing by three wickets. Opting to field first, Rajasthan’s bowlers delivered an outstanding performance, restricting Punjab to 147 runs in 20 overs. Keshav Maharaj excelled with the ball, claiming two crucial wickets for 23 runs in his four overs. Avesh Khan also impressed, securing two wickets while conceding 34 runs.

Trent Boult joined the fray with a wicket, conceding 22 runs, while Kuldeep Sen and Yuzvendra Chahal also contributed with a wicket each. Rajasthan’s batting lineup showcased strength, successfully chasing down the target of 148 runs in 19.5 overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal led the charge with 39 runs off 28 balls, supported by Shimron Hetmyer, who remained unbeaten on 27 runs off just 10 deliveries, including one boundary and three sixes. Tanush Kotian and Riyan Parag also made valuable contributions, scoring 24 and 23 runs respectively, sealing the victory for the Rajasthan Royals.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (c), Philip Salt (wk), Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Rinku Singh, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (c & wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Sen, Avesh Khan.

Who will win the toss? – Rajasthan Royals
Who will win the match? – Kolkata Knight Riders

Captain: Sunil Narine
Vice-Captain: Sanju Samson

Philip Salt, Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Riyan Parag, Mitchell Starc, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult.

The toss is set to play a crucial role in determining the results of every IPL 2024 match, aligning with trends seen in previous seasons. Predictions indicate that teams winning the toss will probably choose to field first, reflecting the recent difficulty in effectively defending totals in IPL matches.

The upcoming 31st match of IPL T20, 2024 is scheduled to take place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Renowned for its traditionally flat and dry pitch, this stadium typically favors batsmen. Over time, spinners have thrived on this surface, capitalizing on the turn and bounce that develops as the game progresses.

The weather outlook for the Kolkata cricket match appears promising, with conditions generally conducive to uninterrupted gameplay. While there’s a slight chance of rain, organizers are optimistic about a full match proceeding as planned.

• Stadium: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
• City:  Kolkata
• Capacity: 64, 000