 The Kolkata Knight Riders will play the Kings XI Punjab in the 37th game of the Indian Premier League. The match will be played at the Eden
Gardens in Kolkata and that will mean that it is a home game for the Knight Riders.
The Knight Riders have had an up and down kind of a tournament so far. They have
lost their first game, won three in a row, lost three more and then won their
previous game against the Delhi Daredevils which means that they have four wins
in the tournament from eight games - a record they will like to better when they
take on Punjab.
Click for Live Score Card of Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Mohali Punjab Kings
Punjab also played their previous game against the Delhi Daredevils but they struggled
to win it. It was ahigh scoring encounter at the Kotla where the side managed
to get to to more than 200 and yet,lose the game because the target was 233. What
the captain Gilchrist was not happy about was the kind of pitch that was being
used given that they would have wanted something for the bowlers too. The Eden
Gardens in Kolkata will allow for that as well as the side will look to pack their
bowling with some of the medium pacers who can try and control the batsmen.
And control they will need to. Kolkata's two best batsmen before the tournament
were expected to be Eoin Morgan and Yusuf Pathan in the middle order. What
they will need to now do is to be able to score runs - none of them have got a
big one and that has affected the side's chances in the tournament. While Pathan
has been able to bowl and pick up wickets, the Englishman Morgan has not been
able to do that either and that will be something that the side will be worried
about.
The Knight Riders may not want to change a winning combination. This will mean
that Sreevats Goswami will continue to open the innings with Jacques Kallis
with Gautam Gambhir coming in at the number three. On the other hand, the Punjab
side will also have Adam Gilchrist opening the innings along with PaulValthaty,
both of who will lookto ensure that they can continue with their good work. The
man in form is Shaun Marsh but he needs company at the other end.
Knight Riders will be favourites to win this one at home even as the opponents
will look to get back to their winning ways.
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