Indian Premier League - IPL / Andrew Hughes / 05 April 2010 /

New captain, new coach, same old Kolkata. After an exciting start, the Knight Riders are slipping down the table and will get little respite on Wednesday when they take on the in-form Delhi Daredevils. Andrew Hughes looks ahead to the game.

Venue and Conditions

Eden Gardens has a reputation for offering slow but tricky batting surfaces and the Knight Riders bowlers have exploited that, cutting down their speed and utilising variation well. But there are signs that it is becoming flatter and first innings scores have increased steadily. Visiting teams also have to contend with the raucous and sometimes intimidating home support.

Team News

Kolkata have to decide who will make way if they want to bring in Brendon McCullum. It will probably come down to Angelo Mathews or David Hussey.

Dirk Nannes may return for Delhi if his finger injury has healed up and Paul Collingwood will continue to keep AB De Villiers out of the team.

Match Odds

Defeat against Punjab at the weekend was demoralising for the Knight Riders who would have hoped that they had turned a corner in this tournament. This time it was their bowlers who let them down and their inability to put together a complete performance with bat and ball is letting them down badly.

Delhi were extremely proficient in the way they brushed aside a powerful Bangalore team on Sunday and their reshuffled line-up really looks the part. With Virender Sehwag not in form and Tillakaratne Dilshan out of favour, they are not as flashy as usual, but they are impressively efficient and their superior bowling makes them justifiable [1.71] favourites to triumph at Eden Gardens.

Top Batsman

You are spoilt for choice with Kolkata, however, given that McCullum may need a few overs to acclimatise and Sourav Ganguly doesn't always score that quickly, the in-form Chris Gayle looks the best option at [4.0] or better.

Virender Sehwag has not been in great form this IPL, but the easy paced pitch at Eden Gardens should suit him perfectly and he should be backed to top score for Delhi if you can get anywhere near [4.0]

Featured Market

The Eden Gardens pitch is getting easier to bat on all the time and it is well worth considering backing 'Over 68.5' in the Highest Individual Score market at [2.0] or better.

Trivia

This is the sixth time these teams have met in the IPL. Delhi have won three of their previous encounters, with Kolkata and the rain sharing the other two.

Andrew Hughes says back 'Over 68.5' in the Highest Individual Score market

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