Crunch game for Kolkata

Sourav Ganguly and Mahendra Singh Dhoni aren't likely to be celebrating together at the Eden Gardens...

Match facts
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Start time 16.00 (local), 10.30 (GMT)

The Big Picture
With the race for the semi-finals slots hotting up, Kolkata Knight Riders have a tough task ahead. While both Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have matches against Deccan and Bangalore, the two bottom-placed teams in the tournament, each of Kolkata's four remaining games are against formidable opponents. Also, barring the Shoaib Akhtar-inspired victory against the Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata have not won any of their games against the teams currently occupying the top five places.

Both Chennai and Kolkata are looking to lift themselves after maulings at the hands of the resurgent Mumbai. The match could turn out to be a battle between Kolkata's outstanding bowling and the batting might of Chennai. It also pits the captaincy skills of former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and the national team's current leader in the shorter formats, Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

But with heavy downpour on Saturday evening, this match could be decided by rain. The Kolkata-based Telegraph reported that the outfield had dried up by night but with rain expected on Sunday as well, both captains should have their D/L tables ready.

Tournament position
Kolkata Knight Riders: P10, W5, L5, NRR -0.014
Chennai Super Kings: P10, W6, L4, NRR -0.203

Form (last five matches, most recent first)
Kolkata Knight Riders: LWWWL
Chennai Super Kings: LWWLL

Watch out for ...
# Ganguly v Muttiah Muralitharan - It will be interesting to see how Ganguly handles the offspinner after having been completely tied down in their previous encounter by a leg-stump line.

# S Badrinath v Kolkata bowling - S Badrinath boasts one of the highest first-class averages but questions were asked about his ability to succeed in Twenty20. After blistering fifties in his previous two games, a good performance against Ishant Sharma, Shoaib Akhtar and Ashok Dinda will silence the doubters.

Team news
Aakash Chopra has failed to impress in his three previous outings and could be replaced by Debabrata Das, with Ganguly pushed up to the opener's slot. Mohammad Hafeez's all-round abilities could see him retain his place ahead of Tatenda Taibu, especially as the specialist spinners, Iqbal Abdulla and Murali Karthik, haven't made much of an impact.

Kolkata Knight Riders (probable): 1 Salman Butt, 2 Sourav Ganguly (capt), 3 Debabrata Das, 4 David Hussey, 5 Mohammad Hafeez, 6 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 7 Laxmi Ratan Shukla, 8 Ajit Agarkar, 9 Shoaib Akhtar, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Ashok Dinda

With Chamara Kapugedera not having contributed much with either bat or ball, he could make way for Makhaya Ntini, especially after Chennai's insipid bowling performance against Mumbai. Suresh Raina has made more than 32 only once in ten innings but a lack of a quality alternative could see him hold on to his place.

Chennai Super Kings (probable): 1 S Vidyut, 2 Stephen Fleming, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt/wk), 5 S Badrinath, 6 Albie Morkel, 7 Joginder Sharma, 8 Manpreet Gony, 9 L Balaji, 10 Muttiah Muralitharan, 11 Makhaya Ntini.

Stats and trivia
# Chennai Super Kings have the worst runs per wicket ratio in the IPL - 31.36

# Three of the most economical figures in an innings is by a Kolkata bowler (minimum of three overs) - Mohammad Hafeez (4-0-8-1 v Deccan Chargers), Ishant Sharma (3-0-7-1 v Bangalore Royal Challengers), Sourav Ganguly (3-07-1 v Bangalore)

Quotes
"They have a good bowling line-up with Akhtar and Sharma in their roster but we've the ammunition to counterattack."
S Badrinath isn't fazed by Kolkata's powerful bowling attack