Can Dhoni’s men stop rampaging KKR?

Having clocked two wins out of their first two matches, Kolkata Knight Riders could not have asked for a better start. The last two years have been decisively buried. In fact the KKR look determined to make the opposition pay dearly in this edition, such is their urgency and resolve. On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings have been slow off the blocks. They would do well to put their opening match disaster behind them if they are looking to make a match of it.

Kolkata Knight Riders

The batsmen are on rampage and so are the bowlers. Captain Sourav Ganguly has had a dream start to this edition of the tournament. Young Manoj Tiwary, who gave an excellent account of his stroke play in the last match, would be looking to consolidate his form and place in the team. Brad Hodge looks to be in good nick and a steady start by the duo will lay down a good platform for the middle order batsmen. It would be a good opportunity for Cheteswar Pujara to prove his batting pedigree.

With the arrival of a certain Mr Bond, the team’s pace attack is looking seriously dangerous. In Shane Bond, Charles Langeveldt, Ishant Sharma, Angelo Mathews and Murali Kartik, Ganguly has perhaps the best bowling attack in the league. MS Dhoni and his batsmen will have a serious challenge on hand.

Chennai Super Kings

Captain Dhoni and his team will be tested to the hilt against the rampaging KKR. The batting has to fire big time. With or without mongoose bat, Matthew Hayden will have to use his experience to ensure a solid start. With the kind of menacing bowling attack that the KKR have, Hayden needs to play long to add that solidity to the innings. Murali Vijay, Suresh Raina and S Badrinath will have to deliver if the team is planning to open their account in the points table.

The bowling attack was subjected to some serious pasting at the hands of Deccan Chargers in their opening match. Dhoni would do well to replace Sudeep Tyagi and pencil in the more experienced Thilan Thushara or MS Goni. With the KKR batsmen in good nick, there will be very little margin of error for the bowlers. Moreover, Dhoni and his men will also have to factor in the overwhelming support of the KKR fans at the Eden Gardens.

Teams (Probable XI):

Kolkata Knight Riders: Brad Hodge, Manoj Tiwary, Sourav Ganguly (capt), Cheteswar Pujara, Owais Shah, Angelo Mathews, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Murali Kartik, Charles Langeveldt, Shane Bond, Ishant Sharma

Chennai Super Kings: Murali Vijay, Matthew Hayden, Suresh Raina, S Badrinath, Justin Kemp, MS Dhoni (capt-wk), Albie Morkel, R Ashwin, L Balaji, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thilan Thushara/MS Gony