New Delhi: The roaring knights of Kolkata are all geared up to host their firt home game when they play host to a highly confident Kings XI Punjab side at Eden Gardens on Thursday.
The home team had indeed started their 2017 campaign on a rather stronger note when their two openers powered through to a commendable 10-wicket victory over The Gujarat Lions at Rajkot, thus assigning the Knights, their first victory.
But the Kolkata-based team failed to hold on to their form as Mumbai Indians came out of nowhere to march through the nail-biting thriller and grab that much needed two points.
On the other hand, Kings XI Punjab had a quite different start to their 10th season as compared to their dismal performance last year. Their all-round performance has indeed proved worthwhile as the Punjab-based team won both their matches so far, and thus Glenn Maxwell's side will be heading to Kolkata, confident.
Here are four players to watch out for today
Kolkata Knight Riders
Manish Pandey: He missed out on the chance to play openly with the bat during the team's opener against The Gujarat Lions, but when it came, he indeed displayed his brilliance. Although the Knights went down fighting to Mumbai Indians in their second match, the 27-year-old's knock of 47 runs off just 81 deliveries put the team on a respectable total of 178 runs.
With Chris Lynn out with shoulder injury, the Uttarakhand-based batsman will have a golden opportunuty to, once again, showcase what his worth, and probably hope to find his name in the reckoning for a place in India's Champion's Trophy squad.
Umesh Yadav: Ahead of their crucial encouter against high-flying kings of Punjab, the Kolkata team got a much needed boost with the return of their star pacer Umesh Yadav. After having a splendid home season, the speedster returns to KKR's home turf and kipper Gautam Gambhir will hope that Umesh grabs some important early wickets.
Eden's pitch is more of a seamer-friendly track, thus it makes the occassion just the perfect setting for his comeback.
Kings XI Punjab
Glenn Maxwell: The Aussie is probably enjoying the form of his life, leading the KXIP. Assigned as the new captain, just days before the start of the season, Maxwell was under the question of whether he could deliver what is actually expected off him. And the 28-year-old responded it in style.
Coming on to the pitch in the closing moments of the match in their encounter against Rising Pune Supergiant, he lit up the stadium with some pyrotechnics. He then helped team cross the finishing lines against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
And today, KKR will need to produce something special to stop him.
Hashim Amla: Calm and composed! One can barely find a hint of aggression on his face. But when he is with his bat, the fans roar aloud, all amazed, looking at his mastery at crease. For the Kings, he indeed is the opener that provides them that firm grip to set up a good total later.
His 58-run knock off 38 deliveries helped KXIP to carve out a victory against the injury-stricken Bengaluru team.
