KOLKATA: Kolkata Knight Riders are back at their home venue and would be looking to return to the winning track when they take on Lucknow Super Giants at the
Eden Gardens
here on Sunday.
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After a great start, which saw them winning three matches, KKR were handed the realty check by Chennai Super Kings. Although they would not be unhappy with three wins and a loss so far, the defeat to CSK showed that their strong batting lineup can be vulnerable too.
The best news for KKR is that they will now play five home matches on the trot.
In the hectic IPL schedule, where the play-travel-practice-play routine is the norm, a three-week stay at home would surely be a thing to cherish. They had launched their campaign this season with a win over Sunrisers Hyderabad here at the Eden, and would be heading into Sunday's match riding a crest of confidence.
Their opponents LSG too have three wins, but would be coming here after a defeat on Friday. They too would be keen to get their campaign back on track.
Just for the records, KKR have never beaten LSG. Will the Bengali New Year see a new dawn?
Although LSG had opened their campaign with a loss, they had recovered remarkably before Delhi Capitals brought them back to earth.
KKR will also be refreshed after a five-day break, having played their last match on April 8. They have not been practising much during this period, spending some quality time off cricket and going on temple visits.
KKR have thrown up some unexpected stars this time. Although an injured thumb had kept Nitish Rana out in the last three matches, young Angkrish Raghuvanshi has stepped in beautifully. However, even though last season's skipper is apparently fit now, it is unlikely that he will be rushed back.
The focus will also be on
Mitchell Starc
, who has an enormous price tag to live up to. Twenty20 is not Starc's favourite format, yet KKR gambled on him and would be expecting him to deliver, particularly at the death. KKR's strategy revolves around their spinners, although Rana believes the likes of Sunil Narine haven't got the surface they would have preferred at the Eden.
KKR would be expecting their spinners to control the game in the middle overs, setting up the stage for Starc to be at his lethal best at the death.
But then, LSG would be quite prepared to counter KKR's strategy and have the right kind of arsenal in
Quinton de Kock
,
KL Rahul
,
Marcus Stoinis
, Nicholas Pooran among others. In case there is turn, Ravi Bishnoi and Krunal Pandya are there to exploit, and KKR have shown their fallibility to spin. Newly-found express pacer
Mayank Yadav
, nursing an injury, is likely to remain absent from the LSG line-up.
Even though the weather in Kolkata has been unpredictable of late, the sufferings of tropical summer are creeping into the daily life. An April Sunday afternoon can be quite hot and humid. And a well-contested T20 match starting at 3.30 pm holds enough promises of fireworks to raise the temperature in the Eden cauldron.
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