The IPL bandwagon moves to Kanpur where Kolkata Knight Riders will square off against the home side Gujarat Lions. The Green Park stadium will host its first ever IPL game and that too an extremely crucial one. It's crunch time for both these sides and they can't afford a loss at this stage with six teams vying for the playoff slots. Both Kolkata and Gujarat have 14 points each with two games to go and both sides are coming on the back of losses to Royal Challengers Bangalore. Both faced the brunt of the Kohli-De Villiers combo and it will be interesting to see which team picks itself up faster.
The Lions can't afford a slip up here as their net run rate has gone for a toss after their gigantic loss to the Royal Challengers in the last game. They would simply want to win and win big to boost that run rate which is presently the worst amongst all the eight teams.
The good news for them though is the fact that if they lose here to KKR even then they can qualify for the playoffs by beating Mumbai Indians in the next game. If they win both their remaining games though they will finish in the top two.
The Knight Riders were beaten black and blue at home by RCB and they would love to get back to winnings ways in Kanpur. They have a pretty good chance of qualifying for the playoffs as another win will boost their chances of qualifying in the top four. However, Gambhir would love to finish in the top two and for that, KKR needs to win both their remaining games. KKR start slight favourites here on current form but one can never count the Lions out.
Venue: Green Park stadium, Kanpur
Match date: May 19, 2016
Match timings: 2000 hrs IST
If Gujarat Lions bat first
Predicted score: 160 and above
The Lions will be buoyed by their skipper Suresh Raina's return to the side. Raina missed his first ever IPL game due to the birth of his child and he will be rejuvenated after that little break. Also the fact that the match will take place at Kanpur should be music to his ears as he knows these conditions at the back of his hand. Being a UP lad, Raina has played all his cricket at the Green Park while growing up.
The Gujarat batting flopped against RCB and the Smith-McCullum duo needs to start a little cautiously here. A solid start is all Gujarat needs with the likes of Raina and Karthik coming in at 3 & 4.
The Lions won't mind somewhere around 40 runs in the powerplays without losing a wicket. It seems Aaron Finch will continue to bat in the middle order unless the think tank decides to drop Dwayne Smith to accommodate an extra bowler. If that happens, Finch should open with Baz.
If Faulkner comes in it will be a boost to their struggling bowling line up. The opening bowlers Praveen Kumar and Dhawal Kulkarni have been pretty good barring the last game with Bravo bowling the crucial overs in the end. Expect Gujarat to pick a couple of wickets with the new ball with Praveen Kumar swinging it up front.
It will be tough for the spinners Kaushik, Tambe, and Jadeja as the KKR middle order boasts of good players of spin.
If Kolkata Knight Riders bat first
Predicted score: 170 and above
Andre Russell will miss this game due to the leg injury he picked up in the last game. It is indeed a huge blow for the Knights and it will be interesting to see who replaces him.
Will Jason Holder finally get a game here? Or will Gambhir opt for Brad Hogg and play an Indian batsman (maybe R Sathish) instead? Can John Hastings get a look in? The KKR think-tank will be looking at all the permutations and combinations before picking the playing eleven.
KKR will look to come hard at Gujarat and their trusted opening pair of Gambhir and Uthappa would want to give their trademark start. Fancy Uthappa to prove a point here after having missed out in the last couple of games. Also, the rest of the batting seems to be in pretty good form with Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan and Shakib Al Hasan occupying the middle order. If Holder comes in he could be handy with the willow down the order.
The bowlers would want to redeem themselves after the punishment they received from RCB last night. They would want to forget all about it as one can't do much when the two best batsmen in the world take you apart.
With Russell missing out, the onus lies on Morne Morkel to provide the early breakthroughs. Ankit Rajpoot, who was decent in the last game might get another chance.
Local boy Piyush Chawla knows Green Park well and so does Kuldeep Yadav. It will be interesting to see whether the Chinaman will be given an opportunity here. The KKR spinners could do a lot of damage if they get the measure of the wicket. Expect KKR to go past the Lions in what promises to be a tight contest.
Probable winners: Kolkata Knight Riders
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