Watch Kolkata v Rajasthan live on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event from 3pm on Tuesday - will Buttler deliver another top knock?
Tuesday 15 May 2018 15:09, UK
Here's what's in store in the Indian Premier League today...
In-form Jos Buttler will aim to smash a record sixth straight IPL half-century when Rajasthan Royals battle fellow play-off hopefuls Kolkata Knight Riders - join us from 3pm on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event.
Buttler's promotion to opener has worked a charm for Rajasthan. Okay, they came up short against Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab when he smeared 67 and 51 respectively, but they are now on a three-game winning streak thanks to the England man's 82 in the reverse fixture against Kings XI and back-to-back scores in the nineties against Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.
Those victories have propelled the Royals onto 12 points and from bottom place in the table into the fourth and final play-off berth - they are above fifth-placed Kings XI and behind third-placed KKR on net run rate, with all three teams having won six and lost six of their 12 matches.
Kolkata come into this fixture on the back of a 31-run win over Kings XI in Saturday's run-infested encounter in Indore, Knight Riders thrashed 245-6 - the fourth-highest total in IPL history - and Kings XI replied with 214-8.
Buttler, obviously, who having matched Virender Sehwag's record of five IPL fifties on the reel will be aiming to eclipse that tally against KKR.
Opposition opener Sunil Narine also gives it a wallop up top, the Trinidadian blazing 75 from just 36 balls against Kings XI at the weekend, while he has also bagged 14 wickets with his spin.
KKR captain Dinesh Karthik often lashes middle-order runs, contributing 50 from 23 deliveries against Kings XI, while Rajasthan's Sanju Samson is another frequent boundary hitter.
Which England players could feature?
Buttler will be joined in the Rajasthan side by Ben Stokes - the all-rounder has struggled to make an impact in the tournament so far but did take 2-26 in an economical four overs against Mumbai on Sunday, ousting Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya as Samson claimed catches at deep midwicket.
Tom Curran is in the Kolkata ranks and seemingly competing with Australian Mitchell Johnson and West Indian Javon Searles for a spot in the seam attack - Searles played against Kings XI but went for a whopping 52 runs from his four overs, so Curran will be hopeful of a recall.
Former England batsman Rob Key and ex-New Zealand all-rounder James Franklin will discuss the action. With England due to name their squad for the first Test against Pakistan at 3pm on Tuesday, the boys should also have their say on that - will they agree with who's in and who's out?
Sky Sports will continue to show every IPL game live, so fans from all over can enjoy the best of Indian cricket.
