The Eden Gardens in Kolkata will host the 30th match of the IPL between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Deccan Chargers. This will be the first repeat match of the tournament, as the two sides had met in the first game of this IPL as well, in which the Kolkata side had easily beaten the Deccan Chargers in Mumbai.

However, tables turned after that as the Deccan Chargers did win three games, before losing a couple of matches to Mumbai and Rajasthan in a row. This means that both the sides have six points each, but Kolkata has played one game more than the Chargers.

The Deccan Chargers will need their top order to fire. Far too often has Adam Gilchrist been getting out after getting a small, blazing start, but he hasn't been able to convert it into something that the side can benefit from. In fact, this culminated into the last game where he was dismissed for a duck by Harbhajan Singh in the very first over.

Apart from Gilly, they also need contributions from everyone in the order and one thinks that VVS Laxman could be called back to play on his favourite ground, the Eden. However, VVS Laxman will be asked to play his natural game and not go after the bowling from the word go, a task that will be assigned to the captain Gilly.

Most importantly, the Deccan bowling needs to fire through the entire duration of 20 overs. In the previous match, the bowling did well till the 17th, after which a lower-order batsman in Harbhajan Singh smacked the ball all around the park to get the score moving.

However, the more worried side will be the Kolkata Knight Riders. While they have won three games, their performances in the games that they have lost has been appalling to say the least. Sourav Ganguly has barely looked like the captain one has known him to be, and the side has generally not had a good time.

Of course, it does not take too long for the sides to overcome their issues and that could mean that a win here would turn the fortunes of the side.

However, Shane Bond is injured and may not be fit to play, whereas Ishant Sharma's bowling has deteriorated enough for him to be kept out of the ICC World T20 side. It would be interesting to see how things go from here for the Knight Riders if they have to remain a force in the competition.

Tag :- Deccan Chargers   Harbhajan Singh   Kolkata Knight Riders   Shane Bond   Sourav Ganguly