What absolute domination from LSG against CSK yesterday. Lucknow Super Giants got their revenge in emphatic fashion and, in the process, may have almost shattered Chennai Super Kings’ playoff hopes.
It was a clinical all-round performance from LSG. Their bowlers did an excellent job of restricting CSK to under 190, and then the batting unit completely dismantled Chennai’s attack during the chase. The target was hunted down in just 16.4 overs, with LSG finishing the game in brutal fashion after taking apart CSK’s main pacer, Anshul Kamboj, for four consecutive sixes.
While this victory may not drastically change LSG’s own position in the tournament, it has certainly dealt a massive blow to CSK’s chances of qualifying for the playoffs.
Onto tonight’s clash, and it is a massive one. KKR host Gujarat Titans at Eden Gardens in what is essentially a must-win fixture for the defending champions. A defeat tonight would officially knock Kolkata Knight Riders out of the playoff race, while a victory for Gujarat Titans would make them the first team to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs.
The stakes could not be higher. KKR are fighting to keep their season alive, while GT have the opportunity to cement their place as the team to beat this season.
Well, our job is to give you everything you need to know ahead of Match 60 of the Tata IPL between Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans — and that is exactly what we are going to do. Let’s begin.
Expected Playing 11:
KKR:
- Ajinkhya Rahane (C)
- Finn Allen
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi (WK)
- Cameron Green
- Rinku Singh
- Anukul Roy
- Manish Pandey
- Sunil Narine
- Anukul Roy
- Kartik Tyagi
- Vaibhav Arora
Impact Player- Matheesha Pathirana
GT:
- Shubman Gill (C)
- Sai Sudharshan
- Jos Buttler
- Washington Sundar
- Rahul Tewatia
- Nishant Sidhu
- Jason Holder
- Rashid Khan
- Arshad Khan
- Mohammed Siraj
- Kagiso Rabada
Impact Player- Prasidh Krishna
Head to Head:
| Matches- | 6 |
| KKR Won- | 1 |
| GT Won- | 4 |
| No Result- | 1 |
Pitch and Weather Conditions:
While it’s been a while since any competitive cricket was played at Eden Gardens because of the state elections, runs and more runs are likely to be the theme on Saturday. The pitch on the eve of the contest looked flat from a distance and bereft of any grass. There was a heavy spell of rain on Friday evening but the temperature in Kolkata on match day is expected to hover around the lower to mid-30s on the Celcius scale.
-ESPN CricInfo
Prediction:
It is a massive game for both KKR and GT tonight, but there is no doubt that the pressure is far greater on Kolkata Knight Riders. If KKR lose this match, their playoff hopes are virtually over. Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, will remain comfortably placed near the top even with a defeat, but a victory tonight would make them the first team to officially qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs.
That difference in pressure is one of the major reasons why we are backing GT in this clash. Teams carrying the weight of survival often end up making more mistakes than sides playing with freedom and confidence. Gujarat Titans, at the moment, look like a team completely in control of their game.
And when you purely look at the cricketing side of things, GT have been operating at an unbelievably high level in their last few matches. Their dominant win over one of the most dangerous batting lineups in the tournament — bowling them out for just 86 — showed exactly how dangerous this Gujarat side can be when they click.
They have all the momentum heading into this contest, and they will be determined to officially seal their playoff spot while simultaneously ending KKR’s playoff hopes.
If you want to see KKR host GT, then tune into JioHotstar at 7:30 PM IST.
Until next time!
Thank you.
SlogVlog 