Preview
Punjab have surprised everyone this season with some spirited display on the field. The lack of real star players does not seem to have hurt them, with the bowlers chipping in consistently. The batting was a problem but with Manpreet Gony, David Miller and David Hussey pulling their weight, everything is working to clock precision for the squad. On the other hand, Kolkata are finding it tough to preserve their reputation. No one had doubted their march to the last four but half-way in the tournament, a place in the play-offs looks increasingly bleak for Gautam Gambhir's side. With only two victories from seven games, Kolkata need to pull up their socks soon.
It was a thrilling contest when the two sides met last time in Mohali. Punjab went on to snatch a victory despite Sunil Narine's hattrick as MS Gony blasted some quick runs and then bowled well to restrict Kolkata.
Kolkata
Team News: The defending champions were dealt a heavy blow by Mumbai and crashed to a five-wicket defeat at the Eden Gardens. While the regular batsmen contributed to a good score, the bowlers were found wanting despite another sterling spell by Sunil Narine. Gambhir and Yusuf Pathan got starts but failed to convert them while Jacques Kallis, Manoj Tiwary and Eoin Morgan cracked a cameo each to give the bowlers a lot to bowl at. However, Kallis twisted his right knee while diving on Wednesday and Tiwary needed four stitches after splitting the webbing on his right hand and both key players appear to be in doubt for Friday's game against Punjab.
Team form: Lost to Mumbai by five wickets
In-form player: Sunil Narine with 14 wickets from seven games staked his claim to the Purple Cap on Wednesday and has easily been the most consistent performer for Kolkata. However, lack of support from the other end has hurt the West Indian. Narine's 3/17 gave the hosts a great chance against Mumbai but they let it slip towards the end. Most batsmen hesitate to take Narine on and rather focus on playing his quota out, which makes him extremely dangerous. He does not give away easy runs and is a regular wicket-taker. Gambhir would hope he gets adequate support against Punjab.
Hit: Eoin Morgan may not have played a really big innings yet so far this year but he has done whatever he could within his powers. He did well to carve out a 25-ball 31 against Mumbai even as Lasith Malinga started applying the pressure towards the fag end of the season. The Englishman has been consistent lower down the order and has the ability to accelerate at will. If Kolkata take the field without Kallis and Tiwary, Morgan's role would get even more prominent.
Miss: Nothing is going right for Yusuf Pathan. Even after he was promoted to open the batting after repeated failures in the middle-order, the Baroda batsman has been unable to make it count. With a highest of 27 from seven innings, Yusuf is losing a lot of backers. However, he might not face the axe yet with Kallis and Tiwary in doubt for Friday.
Punjab
Team News: Punjab have won a lot of hearts with some gutsy performances. Despite Adam Gilchrist's poor form at the top, Mandeep Singh's batting has helped him stand out from the rest of the Indian talent in the contingent. The infusion of David Miller seems to have worked wonders while David Hussey is always the man to fall back on. Shaun Marsh has been declared fit to take the field and if Gilchrist makes way for his younger countryman, another Australian, Hussey might be asked to lead the side. They have won four games out of seven and would look at their clash against Kolkata as a great chance to surge ahead in the points table.
Team form: Defeated Delhi by five wickets
In-form player: David Miller got a chance against Kolkata in Mohali and has since been the team's best batsman. He scored 20 in that game and followed up with a match-winning 80 not out against Pune and cracked a sensible 34 not out against Delhi as Punjab almost made heavy weather of chasing down a low total.
Hit: Punjab have some gems in their reserves, it has to be said. While MS Gony bagged the Man of the Match award on his first appearance this season against Kolkata, Harmeet Singh followed in his tracks to clinch the honours against Delhi with 3/24, which included the prized scalp of Virender Sehwag.
Miss: Punjab find themselves in a strange dilemma. While Gilchrist the captain has done remarkably well, marshaling his resources like a true general, Gilchrist the batsman has been an abject failure with a mere 67 runs from seven innings. If they decide to include Shaun Marsh, Gilly might find it impossible to retain himself in the playing XI.
Quotes: After losing so many games, it is surely difficult. But then we still have a chance to make it to the final four. There are still a few games left and we need to work harder to ensure we win them: Sunil Narine, Kolkata spinner
CB Pick: Punjab have won two on the bounce and more importantly lost their last game against Kolkata, so momentum would certainly rest with the visitors. However, do not count Kolkata out who have the potential to come back hard even without Kallis in the ranks. With a packed Eden Gardens gunning for Gambhir and his men, it will be an exciting, even contest on the cards.
Punjab have surprised everyone this season with some spirited display on the field. The lack of real star players does not seem to have hurt them, with the bowlers chipping in consistently. The batting was a problem but with Manpreet Gony, David Miller and David Hussey pulling their weight, everything is working to clock precision for the squad. On the other hand, Kolkata are finding it tough to preserve their reputation. No one had doubted their march to the last four but half-way in the tournament, a place in the play-offs looks increasingly bleak for Gautam Gambhir's side. With only two victories from seven games, Kolkata need to pull up their socks soon.
It was a thrilling contest when the two sides met last time in Mohali. Punjab went on to snatch a victory despite Sunil Narine's hattrick as MS Gony blasted some quick runs and then bowled well to restrict Kolkata.
Kolkata
Team News: The defending champions were dealt a heavy blow by Mumbai and crashed to a five-wicket defeat at the Eden Gardens. While the regular batsmen contributed to a good score, the bowlers were found wanting despite another sterling spell by Sunil Narine. Gambhir and Yusuf Pathan got starts but failed to convert them while Jacques Kallis, Manoj Tiwary and Eoin Morgan cracked a cameo each to give the bowlers a lot to bowl at. However, Kallis twisted his right knee while diving on Wednesday and Tiwary needed four stitches after splitting the webbing on his right hand and both key players appear to be in doubt for Friday's game against Punjab.
Team form: Lost to Mumbai by five wickets
In-form player: Sunil Narine with 14 wickets from seven games staked his claim to the Purple Cap on Wednesday and has easily been the most consistent performer for Kolkata. However, lack of support from the other end has hurt the West Indian. Narine's 3/17 gave the hosts a great chance against Mumbai but they let it slip towards the end. Most batsmen hesitate to take Narine on and rather focus on playing his quota out, which makes him extremely dangerous. He does not give away easy runs and is a regular wicket-taker. Gambhir would hope he gets adequate support against Punjab.
Hit: Eoin Morgan may not have played a really big innings yet so far this year but he has done whatever he could within his powers. He did well to carve out a 25-ball 31 against Mumbai even as Lasith Malinga started applying the pressure towards the fag end of the season. The Englishman has been consistent lower down the order and has the ability to accelerate at will. If Kolkata take the field without Kallis and Tiwary, Morgan's role would get even more prominent.
Miss: Nothing is going right for Yusuf Pathan. Even after he was promoted to open the batting after repeated failures in the middle-order, the Baroda batsman has been unable to make it count. With a highest of 27 from seven innings, Yusuf is losing a lot of backers. However, he might not face the axe yet with Kallis and Tiwary in doubt for Friday.
Punjab
Team News: Punjab have won a lot of hearts with some gutsy performances. Despite Adam Gilchrist's poor form at the top, Mandeep Singh's batting has helped him stand out from the rest of the Indian talent in the contingent. The infusion of David Miller seems to have worked wonders while David Hussey is always the man to fall back on. Shaun Marsh has been declared fit to take the field and if Gilchrist makes way for his younger countryman, another Australian, Hussey might be asked to lead the side. They have won four games out of seven and would look at their clash against Kolkata as a great chance to surge ahead in the points table.
Team form: Defeated Delhi by five wickets
In-form player: David Miller got a chance against Kolkata in Mohali and has since been the team's best batsman. He scored 20 in that game and followed up with a match-winning 80 not out against Pune and cracked a sensible 34 not out against Delhi as Punjab almost made heavy weather of chasing down a low total.
Hit: Punjab have some gems in their reserves, it has to be said. While MS Gony bagged the Man of the Match award on his first appearance this season against Kolkata, Harmeet Singh followed in his tracks to clinch the honours against Delhi with 3/24, which included the prized scalp of Virender Sehwag.
Miss: Punjab find themselves in a strange dilemma. While Gilchrist the captain has done remarkably well, marshaling his resources like a true general, Gilchrist the batsman has been an abject failure with a mere 67 runs from seven innings. If they decide to include Shaun Marsh, Gilly might find it impossible to retain himself in the playing XI.
Quotes: After losing so many games, it is surely difficult. But then we still have a chance to make it to the final four. There are still a few games left and we need to work harder to ensure we win them: Sunil Narine, Kolkata spinner
CB Pick: Punjab have won two on the bounce and more importantly lost their last game against Kolkata, so momentum would certainly rest with the visitors. However, do not count Kolkata out who have the potential to come back hard even without Kallis in the ranks. With a packed Eden Gardens gunning for Gambhir and his men, it will be an exciting, even contest on the cards.
Teams:
Kolkata
(From): Gautam Gambhir(c), Manvinder Bisla(w), Brad Haddin, Brendon
McCullum, Brett Lee, Debabrata Das, Eoin Morgan, Iqbal Abdulla, Jacques
Kallis, James Pattinson, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Laxmi Shukla, Manoj
Tiwary, Pradeep Sangwan, Rajat Bhatia, Ryan ten Doeschate, Sarabjit
Ladda, Shakib Al Hasan, Shami Ahmed, Sunil Narine, Yusuf Pathan, Ryan
McLaren, Sachithra Senanayake
Punjab
(From): Adam Gilchrist(w/c), Azhar Mahmood, Bhargav Bhatt, Bipul
Sharma, David Hussey, David Miller, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Gurkeerat
Singh, Harmeet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Nitin Saini, Parvinder Awana, Paul
Valthaty, Piyush Chawla, Praveen Kumar, Rajagopal Sathish, Ryan Harris,
Siddharth Chitnis, Sunny Singh, Shaun Marsh, Manan Vohra, Luke
Pomersbach, Manpreet Gony, Sandeep Sharma, Aniket Choudhary
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