For the second Sunday in succession the eyes of the cricketing world will be on Eden Gardens as game two of the Indian Premier League is played out. This time last week the ground was hosting a thrilling T20 World Cup final and if this match is half as good it will be great viewing.
The match in question sees the former champions Kolkata Knight Riders hosting a Delhi Daredevils side for whom there has been a little bit of talk about going into the tournament. They could be the dark horses of the pack.
Kolkata Knight Riders
The 2014 winners look a really strong unit once again going into this campaign. Jacques Kallis will undoubtedly be a big loss but in Colin Munro and Jason Holder they have potentially able replacements for this format of the game.
Home form will be crucial for Gautam Gambhir’s men this season. Eden Gardens can be a real fortress and if they can make it so they will go a long way to making it into the latter stages of the event. The spine of their side, Kallis aside, is still in place which should be beneficial.
Delhi Daredevils
It has been a close season of upheaval in Delhi. They shipped out 11 players and their coaching staff has completely changed but they look to have signed some really dynamic young talent who they hope will gel from the start and get themselves into a position to launch a title tilt.
If there is a concern in this Delhi side it would be in the fitness of their key bowlers. Zaheer Khan hasn’t bowled for almost a year while Mohammad Shami is not long back from injury. There could be real pressure on the South African duo of Imran Tahir and Chris Morris to deliver the goods.
Team news
Sunil Narine is set to miss out for the Knight Riders as he recently went back home due to the death of his father. That could mean that Brad Hogg gets a run out although John Hastings’ death bowling could be better utilised perhaps.
Delhi are set to go with a very South African flavour to their side with JP Duminy, Quinton de Kock and Imran Tahir all expected to play. The Daredevils hierarchy spent $1m on Chris Morris which is a lot of money but after his exploits of last weekend it would be hard to leave Carlos Brathwaite out of the side.
Eden Gardens
If ever a ground needed no describing it is this one. We saw last week just how this ground comes alive especially when there is a good game of cricket on and we’ll see it throughout the season I’m sure.
Sometimes the wicket here can get a little tacky and be slow but that certainly wasn’t the case last weekend and with no Narine for this game it might be that Kolkata decide to take Delhi on toe for toe on a good batting track.
Bets
I’m already on Kolkata outright in this tournament and that is enough to allow me to sit back and give the match outcome a watching brief. That is how I prefer to play the game anyway because we don’t know quite what Delhi will offer. This wouldn’t be the first time they’ve been talked up only to fall flat on their face so I’ll watch them for a game or two.
There is one bet I’m taking though and it comes in the form of the Kolkata sixes. The line is at 5.5 which I think it achievable. We saw in brutal style just how the sixes can be hit on this ground and with the likes of Uthappa, Munro, Russell, Shakib, Yusuf and Yadav all wielding the willow for the home side we don’t lack for big hitters.
If there is a weakness in the Delhi ranks it does come in their bowling attack which looks a little exposed and has the potential to go the distance especially while key bowlers find some match sharpness again. All things being equal I fancy half a dozen sixes from the hosts here.
Tips
Back Kolkata Knight Riders – Over 5.5 sixes for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Paddy Power
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