KOLKATA: The Kolkata Knight Riders dominated the Delhi Capitals recording a massive 106-run victory when the two sides last met in the ongoing IPL earlier this month. But things are unlikely to be the same when they clash again, this time at the Eden Gardens here on Monday.
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The Rishabh Pant-led side has since been on the rise recording four wins in their last five games to be on 10 points after as many games.In contrast, the Knights look a bit shaky after losing two and managing to pull off a narrow one-run victory in their last three games at home. Although still firmly in the playoff race with 10 points from eight matches, KKR know, in case of further slips, they might be in trouble.
Bowling remains KKR’s Achilles heel as they have struggled to defend high totals. All their bowlers, except Sunil Narine, are leaking runs. With Mitchell Starc‘s availability is still uncertain, KKR desperately need to get their bowling combination right. As their assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said, the bowlers need to show heart and develop anti-skill bowling.
In the batting department, it’s time their middle-order step on the gas as it will be expecting too much from Phil Salt and Narine to get them off the block in such fine fashion every day.
After Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow, both of whom hit centuries in winning causes against KKR at the Eden Gardens, all eyes will be on DC opener Jake Fraser McGurk who has lit up this IPL in recent times smashing 247 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 237.50.
The visitors will hope the 22-year-old Australian, who was drafted in once Lungi Ngidi was ruled out of the tournament, will give another breezy start and provide the platform for Pant, regaining his own form, and Tristan Stubbs to fire down the order as DC will look for revenge. However, the side will continue to miss injured David Warner and Ishant Sharma.
Interestingly, DC will have a lot of local input about the Eden track which is proving to be one of the high scoring venues of this tournament. The presence of city boy Sourav Ganguly as DC’s Director of Cricket in the rival dugout can even split KKR’s support base on Monday.
On the ground, Bengal cricketers Abhishek Porel and Mukesh Kumar would love to make meaningful contributions in their ‘home’ match. While Porel is playing important cameo roles, Mukesh has emerged as a ‘death’ bowler for the Capitals.
DC has been the most successful side in this IPL in terms of spin, with their slower bowlers claiming 21 wickets so far.
The team’s leading wicket-taker Kuldeep Yadav, who claimed to have some bitter experience with his old franchise side, will love to prove a point or two against them. The Chinaman bowler is getting good support from Axar Patel who has often kept things tidy.
DC are likely to continue with pacer Rasikh Salam as an impact sub which has worked well for them.
In all it will be a high-stake game for both.
