IPL 6: Match 65- KKR vs PWI - Kolkata Knight Riders Preview

Kolkata Knight Riders will continue their battle for survival in this year’s IPL, when they host the sorry Pune Warriors India side today at JSCA International Stadium, Ranchi. KKR require results to go their way to make it through to the play-offs, thanks to their miserable run at the start of the season.

Apart from winning both their remaining games, the defending champions will need RCB, SRH and KXIP to lend them their helping hands. It might well come down to the net run rate in order to decide the 4th team going into the playoffs, if RCB and SRH lose all their remaining games. PWI, on the other hand, crashed to another demoralizing defeat in their last outing against MI. However, KKR come into this one on the back of two consecutive wins (against PWI and RCB). PWI are languishing in the 9th place on the points table, while KKR are placed 7th.

KKR’s batting has been a cause of worry all through the season with none of the batsmen delivering consistently. Skipper Gautam Gambhir was the pick of the batsmen earlier in the season as he chipped in with a few quick fire fifties at the top. Manvinder Bisla has played some swashbuckling knocks, but they have both been dismissed cheaply in the recent past. The middle order, comprising the likes of Jacques Kallis, Manoj Tiwary and Yusuf Pathan, has looked quite brittle and needs to step up to the occasion in the next two games. Although Kallis was the man of the match in the last game, he needs to score some quick runs in the middle. Playing Ryan ten Doeschate in place of Eoin Morgan has proved to be quite an useful gamble so far.

Their bowling has been good in bits and pieces so far as the spinners have managed to deliver quite often with the mysterious Sunil Narine leading from the front. Sachitra Senanayake has supported him well with his clever varieties. Pace bowling has never been the strength of KKR. However, L Balaji was impressive in the last game against RCB on very slow and low track at Ranchi and Rajat Bhatia has been very useful with his slow off and leg cutters during the middle overs. Kallis will be expected to accompany Balaji with his effective medium pace bowling. They might play Iqbal Abdulla today, considering the slow nature of the pitch.

Conditions:

After the low-scoring match the last time out, the pitch here has faced some criticism from the experts. It is likely to play slow and low today as well, and it might well be a difficult proposition for the batsmen to play their shots freely.

Head to head:

It is completely loaded in favour of KKR, who won all the four games between the two sides so far starting from 2011. PWI hasn’t managed a single win against KKR so far.

Key Players:

Gautam Gambhir: The Delhi left-hander has changed KKR’s fortunes since he came into the side. He will be the key, opening the innings for them. If the skipper comes up with a quick fire knock at the top, it might well set up the game for the defending champions.Jacques Kallis: This huge South African all-rounder has been one the most valuable players for KKR. He will be expected to anchor the innings today as well, especially considering the slow and low conditions here. His spell with the ball too will be key to KKR’s chances.

Possible XI:

They won the last match here with some ease, and are unlikely to make any changes to their side today.

Gautam Gambhir(c), Manvinder Bisla(wk), Jacques Kallis, Yusuf Pathan, Manoj Tiwary, Ryan ten Doeschate/Eoin Morgan, Debabrata Das, Rajat Bhatia, Sunil Narine, S Senanayake and L Balaji