The Kolkata Knight Riders and the Gujarat Lions have been going neck and neck for some time now and this match will give one team the edge over the other. In the Match 38 of VIVO IPL 2016, the Kolkata Knight Riders will host the Gujarat Lions at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Knight Riders won their previous match against the Kings XI Punjab by 7 runs and will hope to continue their good form against the Gujarat Lions.
The Gujarat Lions have lost 3 games in a row and they still haven't found a way to beat their problems. The Lions were going strong early on in this tournament due to their fantastic opening combinations and now they are struggling to recreate their performances. They have been shuffling their players and are trying out new options but it hasn't quite worked out for them yet.
The Eden Gardens has been a reliable pitch to bat on. The wicket will offer some seam movement early on and also provide some support for the spinners.
Match Date and Time: 8 May 2016, 2000 hrs ISTMatch Venue: Eden Gardens Stadium, Kolkata.
Weather:
Temperature: Max 30°C, Min 29°C
Humidity: Max 75%
Wind: 13 km per hour
Pitch Report: Par-score 170. Good wicket with some help for the bowlers.
In-Depth Analysis:
Gautham Gambhir and Robin Uthappa will come out to bat at the start of the innings for the Knight Riders and they have done full justice to their talents. Gambhir has been one of the top run-getters of this season with 393 runs in 9 innings including 4 fifties. The opening pair has put the foundations for the middle order on many occasions and has made them win games regularly.
The Caribbean all-rounder Andre Russell has been the best player for the Knight Riders this season as he has contributed with the bat and the ball. Russell has been bowling with the new ball and has picked up a total of 13 wickets in 9 matches. He currently holds the purple cap. Apart from his bowling abilities, Russell has hit 149 runs with a strike-rate of over 150.
With Yusuf Pathan, Suryakumar Yadav in top form, the Knight Riders will look to unleash their batting might on the Gujarat Lions. The main strength for the Knight Riders has been the ability of the players to remain calm in tense situations.
Morne Morkel will most likely continue to open the bowling with Russell and the tall South African will be a threat with his attacking bowling style. The Knight Riders have a number of spin options and they might choose 3 spinners for this wicket.
The Gujarat Lions have been having a tough time with the bat. Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith need to keep firing for the Lions if they should stand a chance against the Knight Riders. Raina has to step up his game for his team. His quality is undebatable and he should start showing it more consistently.
The bowling department hasn’t been too bad but they haven’t had a chance to defend a decent score as the batsmen have been failing in the past 3 matches. With Pravin Kumar and Dhawal Kulkarni bowling with the new ball, the Lions should be comfortable with their bowling options.
Unorthodox spinner Shivil Kaushik has been the find of this season and the 4 overs that he will bowl will be crucial to increase the chances of restricting the massive batting line-up of the Knight Riders.
The Eden Gardens will be fully behind their home team and the odds will favor the Kolkata Knight Riders to overcome the Lions.
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