The fourth match of the Indian Premier League this year will see Kolkata Knight Riders play their game against the Bangalore Royal Challengers. While Kolkata would have already played their first game against the Deccan Chargers, this will be the first game for the Royal Challengers.

The Kolkata Knight Riders will rely on their performances from the first game to decide on who plays in this second game of their tournament. But one thing is for certain, and that is if they need to perform in the manner totally opposite from what they had in the first and the second edition of the tournament, they will need to buck up really hard.

They will be up against a team that they could take inspiration from. The Bangalore side kept losing their games in the first edition of the tournament and went from one venue to another becoming laughing stock of the nation. In the second edition of the tournament, they turned things around with a performance that matched some of the best in the business and the way they rallied after a few early losses in the second edition was worth watching.

On paper, the Kolkata side looks strong this time around. Also, one gets the sense that all the players for the Kolkata Knight Riders will be around by the time this match starts, and so the captain will have his entire side to choose from. However, the one issue that Sourav Ganguly could have due to that will be the embarrassment of riches. He will find it difficult to choose his players from, given that he has some really excellent players in his side.

However, given that the match is going to be played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, one can be rest assured that the pitch will be on the slower side and hence will make it difficult for the batsmen to find some strokeplay going their way. The batsmen will need to graft their way through if the pitch remains the same, and this is where the likes of Brad Hodge and David Hussey will come in the picture

For the Bangalore side, on the other hand, it will be left to Rahul Dravid to show the way to his top-order, but one mustn't forget that Anil Kumble may relish the Eden Gardens conditions as well. This means that the match, despite being played at Kolkata's home ground will be one of equal matches.

Tag :- Anil Kumble   Bangalore royal Challengers   Brad Hodge   Kolkata Knight Riders   Sourav Ganguly