Teams scrap for first points
ESPNcricinfo previews the game between Kolkata Knight Riders and Deccan Chargers in Kolkata
Match facts
Monday, April 11Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)
Big picture
Both batting line-ups faltered in their opening games; Deccan Chargers never got going, and Kolkata Knight Riders choked. Kolkata definitely have more class and power in their batting, but until Brett Lee and Shakib Al Hasan return from national duty, their bowling looks thin. In their absence though, Kolkata's bowling held up decently against Chennai Super Kings, but it was the star-studded batting line-up that failed to get them home in a modest chase, blowing away a winning position.Team talk
Gambhir said that he had come lower down the order against Chennai in order to hold the line-up together, as Jacques Kallis had got off to a good start. The move of sending Yusuf Pathan at No. 3 and demoting himself to No. 6 did not work, and Kolkata would look at rejigging the order.In the spotlight
Gautam Gambhir has acquired a reputation for some brain fades of late, getting run-out, stumped and bowled after a blind charge in the three World Cup knockout games. He followed that up with another run-out in the IPL opener. He has been in fine touch otherwise, but will have to stay in the middle long enough to make the runs. And would also need to bat at his natural position, in the top order.Prime numbers
- Kolkata's 67 against Mumbai Indians in 2008 is the second-lowest total in the IPL
- The longest losing streak in the IPL is eight matches by Kolkata in 2009
The chatter
"These things happen. If they did not happen, we wouldn't call cricket an unpredictable game."Gautam Gambhir is not too worried over his run-outs
Abhishek Purohit is an editorial assistant at ESPNcricinfo