KKR, SRH seek way out of mid-table jam

Monday, May 4, 2015
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)

It's that time of the season when the middle of the table is a logjam, with a constant churn in the teams' positions after each match-day. Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad are both in that logjam, and neither team can afford major slip-ups hereon.

A Knight Riders win will take them to 11 points but a defeat will leave them outside the top four, with Sunrisers leapfrogging them on the table.

The strengths and weaknesses of both teams are fairly well known. Sunrisers have plenty of options with the ball, but not a lot of genuine pace, with only one of Trent Boult or Dale Steyn able to play on most occasions. They have one of the best opening pairs in the tournament, but their middle order is an area of constant chop and change.

Knight Riders have a strong bowling attack, and have been able to cope fairly well without Sunil Narine, but the two fast bowlers they've preferred - Umesh Yadav and Pat Cummins - have been expensive. Their regular top three have had erratic seasons, and while their middle order packs quite some punch, its ability against high-quality bowling can be questioned. Sunrisers themselves exposed this when Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Praveen Kumar stifled Knight Riders in a truncated run-chase in Visakhapatnam.

But Knight Riders know how to win at their home ground. The pitch suits their style of play, and their spinners. Last season, Sunrisers had one of the best spin attacks in the competition, but this year they have let go of Amit Mishra and relied far more on their seamers. It's only one of a number of potential factors that could decide this match, but Knight Riders will start favourites if the Eden Gardens pitch is anything like its usual self.

Knight Riders have preferred him to Morne Morkel for their last three matches, but Pat Cummins hasn't delivered yet. He's been expensive, giving away 9.70 runs an over, and has only taken one wicket in 10 overs. Cummins will need to step up if Knight Riders are to keep faith in him.

A blistering 61 against Chennai Super Kings lifted David Warner above Ajinkya Rahane to the top rung of the IPL run-getter's ladder. Warner has been extremely consistent for Sunrisers, with five half-centuries in eight matches, and his form has been key to their recovery from a slow start to the season. If he keeps at it, Sunrisers have a real chance of making the playoffs.

"We got four big games to go - we got two home games which are going to be important. We are pretty good at home. We are at the business end of the tournament, so there is going to be a pressure on us."
Knight Riders allrounder Ryan ten Doeschate

"We certainly hope that that is going to turn around. We need to complement the confidence both David and Shikhar give. We know that we need to spring a few wins."
Sunrisers coach Tom Moody wants more from his middle order