Rain threat looms over Kolkata-Punjab clash

KOLKATA: The league phase done and dusted, it's time for the playoffs, with Kings XI Punjab facing Kolkata Knight Riders in Qualifier I at Eden Gardens on Tuesday.
Rain ruled out Monday's match-eve practice sessions, but that shouldn't be a problem for the teams who have been playing frequently enough to be ready for action if the weather relents. Some showers have been forecast on Tuesday also, so the teams will keep fingers crossed.
In case of a washout, though, there is a reserve day (Wednesday), which is expected to be dry.
The teams have treaded different paths en route to bagging the top two spots in the league table. While Kings XI Punjab were almost sure of sealing a final four berth after the first leg in UAE, where they won all five matches, the Knight Riders left it late after losing five of their first seven matches.
So Tuesday's encounter pits the most consistent side of this IPL (KXIP, 12 wins out of 14) against the hottest team in the second phase (KKR, 7 wins on the trot).
The Knights, who finished their league campaign with three home wins - including a 161-run chase in just 14.2 overs over Sunrisers Hyderabad to ensure another appearance at the Eden - will start as clear favourites. They have a much better bowling unit than KXIP and their batting - led by Orange Cap-holder

Robin Uthappa is in good health too. KKR have not only won their last seven games, but done so quite convincingly . They are certainly the team to beat.
KXIP, who got a 9-wicket thrashing at the hands of KKR in Cuttack two weeks ago, may be found wanting in the bowling department. The likes of Sandeep Sharma, Rishi Dhawan, Parvinder Awana, Akshar Patel and out-of-form Mitchell Johnson will have their task cut in restricting the likes of Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Pathan and Shakib-Al Hasan.
The resurgence of the Baroda Bomber, who bludgeoned 72 off 22 balls against Hyderabad, will give any opposition sleepless nights in trying to figure out how to stop him from repeating his Saturday heroics.
Kings XI have, in Glenn Maxwell, someone who can match Yusuf 's power-hitting. Maxwell, though, faces extra pressure as KXIP rely largely on him to get a jumbo total. Pathan, by comparison, can play much more freely, knowing fully well that the top seven can all contribute.
In fact, it is this aspect of everybody making some contribution that gives the Knights a further edge. That way, Gambhir is better placed than his opposite number, George Bailey.
The KXIP will bank heavily on their batting to push KKR. Maxwell apart, they have some other impact players like Bailey and David Miller. And then there is Virender Sehwag, who can't be written off.
Viru may be past his prime, but on his day, the opener can get KXIP off to a flier. The Kings XI will also look for a useful contribution from Wriddhiman Saha, who will love to make his 'homecoming' memorable with an all-round show with the bat and big gloves.
The Eden wicket is likely to assist the spinners and Gambhir could be tempted to bring back leggie Piyush Chawla -who took 3-19 in both games versus the Kings XI -and restore his three-pronged spin attack.
A berth in the final awaits the winning team, but the losers will get a second chance in Mumbai on Friday.
A washout will see Kings in final
The IPL Governing Council has kept a reserve day for all three playoff matches as well as the final, so if the Qualifier 1 between KKR and KXIP is washed out or cannot be completed on Tuesday, it will be replayed on Wednesday (reserve day).
However, if the match is not completed even on Wednesday, then KXIP will go through to the final on account of having more number of wins (11) in the league phase than KKR (9).
KKR will then move to Mumbai to play Qualifier II against the winners of the Eliminator between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians on Friday.
Meanwhile, KKR coach Trevor Bayliss insisted that his team had peaked at the perfect time. "We have peaked at the right time very much like we had done in 2012 when we had won the crown," Bayliss felt.