Kolkata Knight Riders needs its loyal spectators’ support the most when it faces Rising Pune Supergiants at the Eden Gardens on Saturday.
KKR, with 12 points from 10 outings, may not be left disappointed on this front. Only, it has to control the controllable and take a step towards achieving its primary objective of reaching the play-offs.
For a team served well by its openers Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa, KKR’s disastrous start against Gujarat Lions the other night was shocking. The heroics of Yusuf Pathan and Shakib Al Hasan might have revived the host’s innings, but it could not prevent GL from recording a convincing five-wicket win.
Nevertheless, the adverse situation taught KKR how to fight back in seaming conditions.
In bowling, KKR will love to gain more contribution from its pack of experienced spinners, including Piyush Chawla, Brad Hogg, Shakib and Sunil Narine. The availability of Narine, who was out with an injured finger, will be the key.
KKR will also want its pacers, including Morne Morkel, Umesh Yadav and Andre Russell, to be a little more effective.
RPS, which has just six points from 11 matches, has suffered due to injury to some of its top overseas performers and its inconsistent bowling. Ending up on the wrong side in some close matches has hurt the team too.
That twice RPS has failed to defend 190-plus totals is an indication of its weak link.
Young Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa — who has eight wickets from two matches — emerging as RPS’s top wicket-taker bolsters the point.
The M.S. Dhoni-led side will depend on the good work of Thisara Perera, Ashoke Dinda, Rajat Bhatia, and M. Ashwin and hope that R. Ashwin plays to potential.
Ajinkya Rahane may be one of the leading run-getters but he has not got enough support after the exit of Steve Smith and Faf du Plessis.
While RPS will look to regain some confidence, KKR will be on its toes to cross one hurdle at a time.
