Knight Riders eye win to hold on to top-four spot

Saturday, May 14, 2016
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)

Kolkata Knight Riders played previously on Sunday and lost to Gujarat Lions by five wickets. Six days later, they head into their match against Rising Pune Supergiants narrowly clinging on to their top-four spot, and with three of their four remaining games at home, a playoffs berth is theirs to lose.

Yusuf Pathan's return to form has bolstered their middle order. Manish Pandey has recovered from chicken pox. Andre Russell is firing with bat and ball. The chinks in Knight Riders' armour aren't vulnerable. However, a big loss will affect their net run rate and hurt them, given the cluttered mid-table.

At the other end of the scale, Supergiants have been all but wrestled out of contention for a playoffs spot. A loss on Saturday will exterminate any slim chances they currently have.

The difference between the two sides has been the bowling attack. Knight Riders have depth and penetration, which Supergiants have lacked. Injuries and crucial losses at the toss have not helped Supergiants either. Ajinkya Rahane's consistency has helped set up strong platforms for the end overs, but a lack of middle and lower-order firepower has resulted in sub-par totals. At best, Supergiants can improve their net run rate by winning their three remaining games convincingly and hope for a remote mathematical possibility of sneaking through to the final four.

Kolkata Knight Riders: LWWLL (last five matches, most recent first)
Rising Pune Supergiants: LLWLL

Robin Uthappa has been one of Knight Riders' rocks at the top. Despite not being as consistent this season, his contributions have helped the middle order come into their own. However, his keeping hasn't been error-free. Sheldon Jackson is the other wicketkeeper in the squad, but making room for him in Knight Riders' middle order may not be feasible.

R Ashwin has not featured in MS Dhoni's plans against sides that primarily have right-handers in their top order. Knight Riders, however, have two left-handers in Gautam Gambhir and Shakib Al Hasan. How much will Ashwin be required at Eden Gardens' short boundaries?

Shakib's 49-ball 66 in the previous game, against Gujarat Lions, should help him retain his place. Sunil Narine is likely to return after being sidelined with a finger injury.

Kolkata Knight Riders (probable) 1 Gautam Gambhir (capt), 2 Robin Uthappa (wk), 3 Manish Pandey, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Yusuf Pathan, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Piyush Chawla, 9 Brad Hogg/Sunil Narine, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Umesh Yadav

Despite their four-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad, Supergiants seem to have found their best XI. M Ashwin has been ruled out of the contest. With the pitch expected to turn, will Dhoni opt for an additional spinner?

Rising Pune Supergiants (probable) 1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 Saurabh Tiwary, 4 MS Dhoni (capt, wk), 5 Thisara Perera, 6 George Bailey, 7 Rajat Bhatia/Ankit Sharma, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Adam Zampa, 10 Ashok Dinda 11 RP Singh

Lions' seamers made use of a fresh Eden Gardens pitch in the previous game to reduce Knight Riders to 24 for 4. The batting side, however, recovered to post 158 - a score that was comfortably chased. With short boundaries, expect the captain winning the toss to bowl. The weather is expected to remain dry on Saturday.