Without key players, KKR face formidable RCB at home
KOLKATA: A packed Eden Gardens is set to welcome back Kolkata Knight Riders when they play their first match here after three years against Royal Challengers Bangalore at this iconic venue on Thursday.
However, the enthusiasm will not be devoid of concerns after the team went down to Punjab Kings in their opening match this season.
In contrast, the Faf du Plessis-led RCB were off the block in style, recording a dominant win against Mumbai Indians. Although it is an away match, the RCB will not lack inputs about the ground as their Bengal duo Shahbaz Ahmed and Akash Deep have played enough cricket here. The team management will also not hesitate to seek tips from former KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik, who would be eager to return to his former den.
Opening is once again likely to decide the outcome of the match. While KKR continue to struggle in getting off to a decent start, RCB's victory over MI was scripted by their opening duo, the skipper and Virat Kohli.
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The need of a good start has become all the more important for KKR as their middle-order looks brittle in the absence of Shreyas Iyer and Shakib Al Hasan. Venkatesh Iyer looked a pale shadow of what he did for KKR in his opening season while much more is expected from skipper Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh.
After all, their key man Andre Russell will need a good platform to launch his assault.
However, KKR's new coach Chandrakant Pandit is keeping faith in his batting unit. "I wouldn't say that experience is lacking (in the top six). Every individual has created some impact at the domestic and international levels and they are all reputed cricketers. One cannot be judgmental after the first game," he said.
Things will of course be tough against a good pace unit of Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep and Harshal Patel on a track which is expected have bounce and carry.
1/10:IPL 2023: Depleted KKR seek home comfort against star-studded RCB
2/10:Injury-hit KKR look for win at home
<p>Hit by injuries and unavailability of key players, two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders will seek home comfort and look to return to winning ways when they face a star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL on Thursday.<br /></p>IANS
3/10:KKR lose their opener against Punjab Kings
<p>Having started their campaign with a seven-run defeat via Duckworth-Lewis method against Punjab Kings at Mohali.<br /><br /></p>ANI
4/10:KKR rope in Jason Roy
<p>England opener Jason Roy was roped in by KKR to give the side a boost following injury to regular captain Shreyas Iyer and the pullout of Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan.<br /></p>IANS
5/10:Roy will be available for GT clash
<p>Roy will miss KKR's home game against RCB on Thursday but will be available for selection for the team's next match against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on April 9.<br /></p>Getty Images
6/10:Shakib pulls out of IPL
<p>First Shakib pulled out of IPL because of family reasons and international commitments and, the next day, regular skipper Shreyas was ruled out of the entire IPL as he will undergo a surgery to treat his back injury.<br /><br /></p>
7/10:Rana has a big responsibility on his shoulders
<p>'Accidental' skipper Nitish Rana, who has experience of leading Delhi in white-ball cricket, has a big task ahead of him as the team desperately seeks some solace in its den.<br /><br /></p>IANS
8/10:Kohli brings excitement to an all-time high
<p>The excitement will be at an all-time high for both teams, with crowd-puller Virat Kohli in the visitors' dug out.<br /></p>PTI
9/10:Iyer's absence makes KKR batting feeble
<p>Iyer's absence has made the batting feeble. A quick-fire fifty-run partnership between Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer, who was promoted to No. 4, was the highlight of their batting against Punjab.<br /></p>
10/10:All eyes on Gurbaz
<p>KKR also can take positives from a cracking start by Afghan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who smashed a flurry of boundaries and a 101-metre six before perishing for 22.<br /></p>IANSThere's a chance of England's left-arm pacer David Willey replacing his countrymate Reece Topley, who has suffered a shoulder dislocation.
However, the absence of Rajat Patidar can effect RCB as the Madhya Pradesh batter cemented his place in the side, scoring 404 runs in 12 IPL matches.
The hosts' bowling also lacked consistency with their trump card Sunil Narine going for 40 runs in his four overs in the last match. There's some good news for KKR as pacer Lockie Ferguson was seen bowling at the nets after recovering from an injury.
However, it remains to be seen whether the New Zealand player is match-fit to replace Tim Southee, who leaked runs in the last game.
Roy joins KKR
In a move to strengthen their top order, KKR have roped in England's Jason Roy. With skipper Shreyas Iyer and Shakib Al Hasan out for the season, KKR needed an experienced batter. Roy has earlier played for four IPL sides namely KKR, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Lions and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Coach Pandit welcomed Roy stating that "apart from being a top-order batter, he can be used as an impact player too." The right-handed batter, however, will not be available for Thursday's match and will join the side in Ahmedabad for KKR's next game against Gujarat Titans on Sunday.
