A win against Mumbai Indians will ensure a playoff berth for hosts
KOLKATA: Taking the bigger picture into consideration, the outcome of the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians at the Eden Gardens here on Saturday will not have much of an effect on this year's IPL. While the hosts have all but sealed a playoff berth, MI became the first team to be eliminated.
But the result can have some impact on the fortunes of KKR, who will be keen to finish among the top two in the league stage.
They are already at pole position (16 points) and will look to win their remaining three matches to get the advantage of taking a 'double shot' at reaching the final.
Going by present form, that should not be difficult for the Shreyas Iyer-led boys who are on a roll, playing some destructive cricket in this IPL.
The weather in Kolkata perhaps reflects the mood of the MI camp. It's been raining for the past few days and remains gloomy almost the entire day. Things have gone from bad to worse for MI this season and after eight defeats, rumours of a divided dressing room are also coming out in the open.
So, the five-time IPL champions have much to prove before ending this year's campaign. Perhaps it's time for the team consisting of a pack of India players, who will lead the country's challenge in the T20 World Cup next month, to stand up and deliver as an assurance to the millions of Indian cricket fans.
Jasprit Bumrah
has been the only silver lining in MI's campaign this season. The pacer, in the run for the purple cap with 18 wickets from after 12 games, has not got able support from the other end. Their spin department also failed to give any confidence, managing just 13 of their 68 total wickets in the tournament so far.
MI batters were found wanting too with no one getting 400 runs so far. Team India skipper
Rohit Sharma
failed to fire at the top scoring only 330 runs in 12 innings. However, it was refreshing to see
Suryakumar Yadav
getting his mojo back with a 51-ball unbeaten 102 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the last game.
But all eyes will be on
Hardik Pandya
who has failed to deliver both as a player and skipper on the ground. The all-rounder, who has scored only 198 runs in 11 innings and took 11 wickets, needs to do more as his form and performance will be very important in India's T20 WC campaign.
MI had KKR on the ropes in their last match at Wankhede, but the latter managed to escape with a victory. And that has been the story of KKR this season where someone or the other has always raised his hands when needed.
With the side operating as a well-oiled unit, spinner Varun Chakraborty pointed out rightly that "it's more important to maintain consistency from here. When you are at the top, you have to keep doing the basics right."
A high-flying KKR will like to ensure a playoff berth and end their home campaign with a victory.
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