Andre Russell and Liam Livingstone would be crucial for their teams in the tournament [AP Photos]

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will play against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 42nd match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024). This match will be played at the iconic Eden Gardens on April 26th at 7:30 PM IST. 

Before the match goes live, here are the important player stats, the top captain and vice-captain choice, and the players you can avoid as the C or VC for the game. 

KKR vs PBKS -Important Player Stats

KKR vs PBKS Toss Factor

The wicket at Eden Gardens has been good for batting, and this ground has improved as a batting deck recently. The team winning the toss will prefer chasing a target at this venue. 

Scenario: If Kolkata Knight Riders win the toss

• Kolkata Knight Riders have good depth in their batting. Power hitters like Andre Russell and Rinku Singh coming lower down the order will be advantageous for the team. Players like Sunil Narine, Shreyas Iyer and Andre Russell will be critical choices in this case. 
• KKR bowlers like Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy could be efficient on this wicket. They could be highly beneficial choices for fantasy contests. 

Scenario: If Punjab Kings win the toss

• The main strength of the Punjab Kings’ batting is in the lower middle-order. Players like Ashutosh Sharma and Shashank Singh have shown they can keep calm under pressure and take the team close to a big target. So, Sam Curran might show trust on these players and opt to field first on winning the toss. 
• Kagiso Rabada has been in a decent wicket-taking form in IPL 2024. The South African speedster should be the prime choice from the PBKS bowling attack. Alonside Rabada, Arshdeep Singh could be an ideal pick of this wicket. 

KKR vs PBKS Top Captain and Vice-captain Picks

Scenario: If Kolkata Knight Riders win the match

Sunil Narine has been in brilliant batting form in IPL 2024 [AP Photos]

Sunil Narine (KKR)

The West Indian all-rounder has been the most valuable player for KKR in IPL 2024. Sunil Narine has re-invented himself as a batter in the top-order and has also bowled decent economical spells in the middle-overs. Selecting him as the C or VC will be one of the most safes decisions. 

Phil Salt (KKR)

The English opener has, with his consistency, added to KKR’s top-order batting efficiency. Phil Salt has also done a great job at the Eden Gardens and will hence be a great option as a C or VC.

Scenario: If Punjab Kings win the match

Shashank Singh has been the biggest strength of the PBKS batting [AP Photos]

Shashank Singh (PBKS)

The top order of the PBKS batting has looked totally out of rhythm in IPL 2024. They have mainly depended on the lower middle-order to carry them through during batting. Shashank Singh has been their highest run-scorer in this tournament and given the way PBKS batting is performing he will be a good choice as the C or VC. 

Sam Curran (PBKS)

The stand-in PBKS skipper has done a decent job for his team. Sam Curran has opened the innings for the team in the couple of games. Even though he has not fired at the top of the order, the wicket at Eden Gardens might favour him and he could regain his batting form. Also, that he bowls important overs for PBKS makes him a great option to multiply points in both the innings. 

KKR vs PBKS High Risk, High Reward

Liam Livingstone (PBKS)

This English all-rounder has not all delivered with the bat in IPL 2024. Even though he has picked up wickets with the ball, the PBKS would be expecting a lot more from Liam Livingstone, the batter. Given how the Eden Gardens wicket has behaved in the tournament, Liam Livingstone may emerge as the game changer. 

Andre Russell (KKR)

The Jamaican all-rounder has performed decently in IPL 2024. However, Andre Russell has often been inconsistent with his displays, making him a risky C or VC choice. But if he finds rhythm in either of the trades, Russell could be a decisive pick. 

KKR vs PBKS Stay Aways

Prabhsimran Singh (PBKS)

The Indian opener has not been in the greatest of forms in IPL 2024. Though he looked to have a gained a bit of his rhythm in the last match, but in his current form Prabhsimran Singh won’t be a higly rewarding C or VC choice.

Ramandip Singh (KKR)

The young Indian all-rounder has done a decent job in this torunament. But Ramandip bats a bit too low down the order to impact the fantasy contests as a C or VC.