KK vs IU Match Preview
The Karachi Kings have been boosted by the impressive batting performances of Kieron Pollard and Shoaib Malik, who have been instrumental in the success of the team's middle order this season. Pollard currently leads the team in runs scored with 135, closely followed by Malik with 121 runs. Additionally, James Vince and Mohammad Nawaz have also made valuable contributions with their batting.
However, the opening duo of Skipper Shan Masood and Muhammad Akhlaq have struggled to maintain consistency in their performances. On the other hand, the seamers, Mir Hamza and Hasan Ali, have been in excellent form, collectively taking 11 wickets. Daniel Sams has also made a notable contribution with 3 wickets to his name.
In terms of the spin attack, Tabraiz Shamsi has had a relatively quiet season, managing to pick up only 2 wickets in 3 matches. This suggests that the spin department may need some improvement in order to strengthen the team's overall bowling performance.
Colin Munro and Jordan Cox have displayed impressive performances at the beginning of the innings for Islamabad United, and it is expected that they will continue to do so in this upcoming match. Munro's recent half-century and his excellent form make him a valuable asset to the team. His partnership with Azam Khan resulted in a commendable 108-run collaboration, bringing the team close to the challenging target of 202 runs against Peshawar.
Agha Salman is another crucial player for Islamabad, having scored the highest number of runs for the team, totaling 163 runs. Turning our attention to the bowling department, Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah have performed admirably, each taking 6 wickets. However, the remaining bowlers have struggled to provide adequate support.
Tymal Mills, Imad Wasim, and Hunain Shah have all proven to be quite expensive in terms of runs conceded.
Weather Report
The weather will be clear with temperatures of between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius.
Pitch Report
Since this is the first match of the season that will be played on this ground, we can expect a fresh surface. Looking at the records, the pitch is good to bat on and we can expect a run-fest. The average first-inning score on this ground is around 180. The pitch does slow down a bit during the second half, making things difficult for the batsmen.
Notable stats
Vince: Batting Superstar
James Vince is known for his explosive brand of batting. He has scored 199 runs in 6 matches at a strike rate of 165.83 and an average of 39.80.
Team News
There are no updates regarding injuries from either side.
KK vs IU Probable 11
KK Playing 11
- Shan Masood (C)
- Muhammad Akhlaq (Wk)
- James Vince
- Shoaib Malik
- Kieron Pollard
- Irfan Khan
- Hasan Ali
- Daniel Sams
- Tabraiz Shamsi
- Mir Hamza
- Mohammad Nawaz
IU Playing 11
- Haider Ali
- Colin Munro
- Agha Salman
- Shadab Khan (C)
- Azam Khan (Wk)
- Jordan Cox
- Imad Wasim
- Faheem Ashraf
- Hunain Shah
- Naseem Shah
- Tymal Mills
Dream11 Prediction
We are backing Islamabad United to win this match. They have a strong squad at their disposal. There is plenty of depth in the batting thanks to some quality all-rounders. The team also has an excellent record against Karachi, giving them a psychological edge.
Top Picks
Kieron Pollard: One of the most explosive batsmen in the T20 format, Pollard has scored 135 runs this season at a strike rate of 162.65.
Agha Salman: Agha Salman has scored 163 runs this season at a strike rate of 155.23. His knocks include 2 half-centuries in 4 matches.
Shadab Khan: A quality all-rounder, Shadab Khan has scored 93 runs and also picked up 6 wickets.
KK vs IU Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: A Khan
Batters: C Munro, K Pollard
All-rounders: S Khan (C), I Wasim, D Sams, S Malik, A Salman (VC)
Bowlers: H Ali, N Shah, M Hamza
