The song and dance over, it's time for some serious fun as IPL 8 gets under way at Eden Gardens on Wednesday night. Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders take on former champions Mumbai Indians in what is expected to be a mouth-watering clash. (LIVE SCORECARD /SCHEDULE /PHOTOS )
19:05 (IST): The first game is billed to be a blockbuster but the biggest point of interest in this game would be Sunil Narine. The West Indian 'mystery' spinner has been a pillar in KKR's success over the years and it will be interesting to see how he bowls with a remodelled action!
19:00 (IST): Lights, Camera, Action - IPL 8 is back! Another new season of the Indian T20 extravaganza is upon us and at Eden Gardens defending champions KKR takes on MI. The opening ceremony was marred by rain but hopefully, the rain gods would be merciful on the tournament opener.
Sunil Narine (R) is seen here with KKR's bowling coach Wasim Akram on the eve of his team's first match of IPL 8.
© PTI
Kolkata Knight Riders will have to swear by KORBO, LORBO, JITBO to strike a purple patch and improve their win-loss ratio against Mumbai Indians. The IPL champions have the quality and depth to match Mumbai Indians, whose support staff looks more luxuriant than the team itself. (WATCH: KKR the Best in IPL, says Dean Jones )
With Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Robin Singh part of Mumbai's team management, Rohit Sharma couldn't have asked for better guidance, but in the T20 format, where luck plays a critical part, punditry can often be hit for a six. (Sachin Tendulkar Takes Centrestage at Eden Gardens )
Kolkata and Mumbai have played 14 times, the same number of matches Gautam Gambhir's team went unbeaten last season (IPL and Champions League T20 combined). At Eden Gardens on Wednesday night, KKR will fancy their chances on what is normally a slow track. The rains this week too will not encourage stroke-making.
Sachin Tendulkar with Ponting and Rohit Sharma at Eden Gardens
© MumbaiIndians
KKR have the bowling to trouble Mumbai's free-stroking batsmen. Therefore, Sunil Narine, who skipped the World Cup, will aim to make his presence felt after weeks of introspection on his action. Gambhir is clearly relying on his West Indian asset.
"I have always maintained that even if he (Sunil Narine) bowls a straight ball, it is always going to be an advantage -- that's the kind of aura and that's the kind of threat he has had on the opposition throughout the last three years," Gambhir said. (Narine is Gambhir's Main Weapon )
The IPL, every season, has thrown up new faces. KKR have a couple of 'mysteries' up their sleeves with KC Cariappa and Kuldeep Yadav potentially capable of spinning yarns around batsmen.
Given this is going to be the tournament opener, both KKR and MI are expected to tread on tested lines and shun the extravagance that can cost two good points in a long-drawn league.
0 comments:
Post a Comment