Kolkata Knight Riders Predicted XI vs Punjab Kings, IPL 2023: Will In-Form Rahmanullah Gurbaz Get His Chance?

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) kick off their campaign against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 2 of the Indian Premier League on Saturday at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. With captain Shreyas Iyer out for the tournament due to a back injury, stand-in skipper Nitish Rana will have a point or two to prove as he looks to take his team to the playoffs against all odds. While the job won't be an easy one, head coach Chandrakant Pandit's presence could be beneficial for the franchise.

Ahead of their first game of the season, here's what we think could be KKR's playing XI against PBKS:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz: After being drafted to the team from Gujarat Titans, the Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter will look to get opportunities this time around. Despite hardly played last season, Gurbaz can help KKR in sorting out their top-order issues.

Venkatesh Iyer: Keeping in mind the left-right combination, Venkatesh is likely to open the innings, alongside Gurbaz. After enjoying a breakthrough season in 2021, which saw him break into the Indian side, Venkatesh failed to fire on cylinders last season.

Nitish Rana: He is likely to occupy the no.3 spot, having played a lot of cricket in that very position. Named captain for the season, Rana will have an added responsibility to anchor KKR's innings. His form will be crucial for the two-time champions.

Narayan Jagadeesan: Bought for the sum of Rs 90 lakh, Jagadeesan will look to impress the management and cement his place in the team. Jagadeesan has done well in TNPL and recently owned the world record for highest List A score (277).

Andre Russell: Having been with the franchise for nearly a decade, Russell has seen a lot of ups and downs. After his struggles in 2020 and 2021, Russell regained his