Match number 56 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season sees Kolkata Knight Riders face Rajasthan Royals in a pulsating contest at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. KKR have won two on the bounce and are placed sixth with 10 points from 11 games. RR are fifth with the same number of points from 11 games but have a better NRR.
RR spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is one wicket away from being the highest wicket-taker in IPL history. Chahal is tied alongside Dwayne Bravo in terms of IPL scalps (183 each). He can now steer clear to be the number one ranked bowler. Chahal, who won the Purple Cap in IPL 2022, has claimed 17 scalps from 11 games this season at 19.41.
Notably, 44 of his 183 IPL scalps have come for RR. Meanwhile, Chahal requires one scalp alongside R Ashwin to touch 25 wickets against KKR (24). Only Bravo (32) owns more scalps.
Other records on offer in the KKR-RR contest
Sanju Samson set to feature in his 150th IPL match
All eyes will be on RR skipper Sanju Samson, who is set to feature in his 150th IPL match. So far, Samson has scored 3834 runs at 29.26. He has three tons and 20 fifties, slamming 301 fours and 177 maximums. In IPL 2023, Samson has scored 308 runs from 11 games at 30.80.
Samson can surpass Watson
Samson can get past former RR and CSK legend Shane Watson in terms of runs. Watson managed 3874 runs at 30.99.
Samson can get to 250 fours for RR
Samson has managed 3157 runs for the Royals (highest) at 29.78. Samson is now one four away to register a milestone of 250 for the franchise. He will become the third player to do so after Ajinkya Rahane and Jos Buttler.
Samson can get to 500 runs versus KKR
Versus KKR, Samson has clobbered 469 runs at 27.58. He needs 31 more to reach a mark of 500. He will become just the 12th player to achieve this mark. He can also get to 50 fours versus KKR, having slammed 44.
Russell and Rana can achieve these numbers at Eden
Andre Russell has scored 787 runs at the Eden Gardens in IPL at 35.77. Russell needs 13 runs more to become just the fourth player to slam 800-plus runs at Eden Gardens after Gautam Gambir, Robin Uthappa, and Yusuf Pathan. Meanwhile, KKR skipper Rana has scored 608 runs. He can become the fifth-highest scorer at this venue by surpassing Dinesh Karthik (630).