Chennai Super Kings top the Indian Premier League 2018 table after six wins from their first eight matches.
The Super Kings successfully chased 203 to win when the teams met in Chennai earlier in the season, despite Andre Russell blasting 88 from 36 balls for the Knight Riders.
Chennai batsman Ambati Rayudu currently leads the race for the orange cap, having scored 370 runs from eight innings at an average of 46.25, and with a strike rate of more than 150.
KKR vs CSK Win Probability
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Chennai Super Kings have been in superb form this season, and will look to defeat Kolkata Knight Riders for the second time in IPL 2018 when they face each other at Eden Gardens. Scheduled to start on May 3, the live action begins at 20:00 local time.
KKR vs CSK: Where to watch/Live streaming
TV channels: Star Sports, Sky Sports, Willow TV, SuperSport, Geo Super, Channel 9, Fox Sports, BeIN Sport
Though the Eden Gardens offers assistance to the spinners in the second innings, only once - in Kolkata's thrashing of out-of-form Delhi Daredevils - has the team batting second failed to win so far this season.
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds and match prediction for Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings, Indian Premier League.
KKR Team News & Playing 11
Team News
Jacques Kallis was rewarded for his patience last time out, having seen his decision to stick with an unchanged side pay dividends against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Though Shivam Mavi went wicketless again, he only conceded two boundaries from his three overs and was one of the team's most economical bowlers. It also meant the same balance at the top of the order could be retained. The only thing that could stop them retaining the same team again will be the fitness of Nitish Rana in the top-order, after he was forced to retire hurt in that victory. Should he miss out, Rinku Singh will be pushing for a recall. He scored just eight runs in his first two matches, but the young Uttar Pradesh batsman had shown good batting form earlier during the main domestic season.
Key Players
Andre Russell scored 88 not out in the previous meeting between these two sides, and is one of three batsmen to have passed 200 runs this season for the Kolkata Knight Riders. He also impressed with the ball against Royal Challengers Bangalore, claiming 3-31. Chris Lynn is now the team's top scorer after his match-winning 62 not out against Royal Challengers Bangalore, while Dinesh Karthik, who hit a quick-fire 23 in that match, has 235 for the season despite not yet passing 50 in any of his eight innings. Robin Uthappa's return to form has taken him to 199 runs, passing 30 in four of his last five innings. At Eden Gardens, Sunil Narine has impressed with the ball meanwhile - six of his eight wickets so far have come in the second innings of Kolkata's home matches.
Recent Form
Kolkata ended a two-game losing streak with victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore last time out, chasing 176 to win for the loss of four wickets with five balls to spare. They had previously seen their bowlers take some punishment in defeats to Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab, but have now won three of their last five after a seven-wicket defeat of Rajasthan Royals and a 71-run home win against Delhi Daredevils in their two matches prior to that.
KKR Predicted Playing 11
Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Khartik, Shubman Gill, Andre Russell, Shivam Mavi, Piyush Chawla, Mitchell Johnson, Kuldeep Yadav
KKR vs CSK Match Prediction
CSK Team News & Playing 11
Team News
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis took full advantage of his overdue return to the Chennai Super kings team by scoring a run-a-ball 33 in the win against Delhi Daredevils last time out. He replaced Sam Billings in the starting line-up, with the England batsman having failed to reach double figures with the bat since a half-century in his opening game - the reverse fixture against Kolkata Knight Riders. Du Plessis opened the batting and shared a 102-run opening stand with Shane Watson, with Ambati Rayudu dropping down to bat at four where he continued his fine form with the bat too. The win against Delhi Daredevils also saw Lungi Ngidi return to the side, after the 22-year-old took time off due to family reasons. He replaced veteran Imran Tahir in the side, with fellow veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh taking on the lead spinning duties alongside all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
Key Players
Ambati Rayudu is the leading batsman in the 2018 Indian Premier League so far, leading the race for the orange cap with 370 runs in his first eight matches. His last four innings have seen him power to 79 and 82 against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore respectively, before adding 46 against Mumbai Indians and 41 against the Delhi Daredevils. Shane Watson stole the show against Delhi, however, opening the batting with 78 from 40 balls in a century stand with Faf Du Plessis. MS Dhoni then blitzed an unbeaten 22-ball half-century - his third 50 of this year's tournament - to move to 286 runs so far, five ahead of Watson. The other man in Chennai's formidable top five is Suresh Raina who, despite an inconsistent tournament so far, has twice hit unbeaten half-centuries.
Recent Form
Chennai have won six of their opening eight matches following their victory against Delhi Daredevils last time out. That match marked the fourth time they have passed 200 runs in this year's competition, and the 13-run victory in Pune helped them bounce back from their eight-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians two days earlier. That defeat ended a three-match winning streak, which had included last-over wins against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore, following Shane Watson's 106 in the 64-run victory against Rajasthan Royals.
Chennai Super Kings' five-wicket win earlier in this year's competition - their first meeting, of course, since Chennai's two-year ban from the Indian Premier League ended - was their 12th in 19 previous matches against Kolkata Knight Riders. Of those 12 wins, one was in the 2014 Champions League T20 final.
The match earlier in the season was a brilliant high-scoring game, which saw Andre Russell blitz 88 not out from 36 balls as Kolkata Knight Riders posted 202/6. Chennai chased that down, however, with Sam Billings hitting a 23-ball 56 before Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo got them over the line with just one ball to spare.
KKR vs CSK Betting Odds
Chennai Super Kings have enjoyed a brilliant return to the Indian Premier League, with their all-star batting line-up in top form. It is easy to see why they are favourites for the match against Kolkata Knight Riders. They are 1.87 to win with Betfair and 1.80 with Bet365; Kolkata, by contrast, are 1.95 and 2.00.
With all five of their top-order batsmen firing at different times this season, it is hard to pick the leading candidate to be Chennai Super Kings' top scorer at Eden Gardens. Shane Watson's position opening the batting does give him an advantage, however, and he is 4.00 to top score with Bet365. In-form, orange cap leader Ambati Rayudu moved down to four against Delhi Daredevils last time out, but he is still a best price of 4.50 to be Chennai's top batsman against Kolkata.
Andre Russell top scored the last time these two teams met, but as he bats down the order he is a risky bet at 9.00 to be Kolkata Knight Riders' top batsman against Chennai. Opener Chris Lynn was their top man in the win against Royal Challengers Bangalore, and he is 3.25 with Bet365 or 3.40 with Betfair to be top scorer for KKR again on Thursday.
Kolkata vs Chennai Prediction
Kolkata Knight Riders may be playing at home, but with Chennai Super Kings' batsmen in superb form it is hard to look beyond the table-topping visitors. Having got back to winning ways last time out against Delhi Daredevils, they can make it two wins on the bounce in Kolkata.
Final Verdict: Back Chennai Super Kings to beat Kolkata Knight Riders at 1.80 with Bet365 and 1.87 with Betfair.
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May 03, 2018
20:00 IST / 14:30 GMT
Eden Gardens - Kolkata, India
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