Kolkata Knight Riders look to push for playoff berth against Chennai Super Kings

KOLKATA: Kolkata Knight Riders couldn't have timed their 'homecoming' better.
Having played the first phase of IPL 7 in the UAE and then covered the length and breadth of the country once the tournament returned to India, KKR will finally get to play their first match at Eden Gardens on Tuesday when they face the formidable Chennai Super Kings.
With CSK and Kings XI Punjab already assured of playoff berths, and Rajasthan s Royals almost there, there is practically just one slot up for grabs.
Sunday's win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, though, seems to have put KKR (12 points from 11 games) in pole position in the race for that solitary berth.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (10 points e from 11 matches) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (8 from 11) have a lot of work to do if they are to pip KKR. Interestingly, their last two ties are against chief rivals RCB and SRH, respectively.
In a way, KKR have a straightforward job at hand - just win the remaining three games to kill RCB and SRH's chances and walk into the playoffs.
They will thus relish playing their last three games at home, as the slow and low Eden Gardens track e will suit their three-pronged spin attack of Sunil Narine, Shakib Al-Hasan and Piyush Chawla perfectly.
The Eden wicket, though, will also be to CSK's liking as they have Ravichandran Ashwin, West Indian Samuel Badree, Ravindra Jadeja and Suresh Raina to man the spin department.
And though the two-time IPL champions have qualified for the last four, the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side will go out all guns blazing to ensure a top-two spot.
Due to the extreme heat wave here, the pitch has been kept under cover after watering, which will slow down the surface further. A low-scoring match is on the cards and KKR will have to be on guard to avoid a morale-hurting start to their home run.
New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum will play his last league match for CSK before flying home to be with his wife for the birth of their child.
However, the inclusion of David Hussey, in place of the injured Dwayne Bravo, has given skipper MS Dhoni more options. Hussey can bat anywhere in the order, and although his last over on Sunday may have backfired for CSK, the former KKR player can be handy with his part-time off-break on the Eden surface.
With Eden set to host Qualifier 1 between the No 1 and 2 teams in the league phase on May 27, and CSK very much in contention for a top-two finish, they can get some good practice at this venue.
KKR have won four matches on the trot, thanks to Gautam Gambhir's return to form.
The skipper, along with Robin Uthappa - the top run-getter among Indian players in IPL7 - have done half the job for the side by providing good starts in last few matches.