This will be the second outing of the campaign for both sides, having had completely differing opening results to open the season.
For KKR, things couldn’t have gone much better when they faced the Delhi Daredevils away from home, as they enjoyed a crushing 9-wicket victory. In contrast, the reigning Champions the Indians found themselves well and truly beaten by the newly formed, Rising Pune Supergiants, who playing their first ever IPL fixture, claimed the points in Mumbai with a 9-wicket success of their own.
KKR went into their opening encounter in Delhi without a number of players that have been integral to their success in recent IPLs.
Both Shakib Al Hasan and Morne Morkel were left out of the playing side, while West Indian mystery spinner, Sunil Narine, who was such a vital cog in the title winning teams of 2012 and 2014, was unavailable due the death of his father.
The changes didn’t appear to have too much bearing, as KKR dismissed their hosts for a mere 98 runs, with both Andre Russell and Brad Hogg taking three wickets apiece. A 69 run opening partnership between Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir set them well on the way to their modest target, and ensured that there would be no batting collapse of their own. KKR eventually easing home by 9-wickets with still 35 balls of their allocation remaining. .
Mumbai found themselves caught on a Wankhede Stadium pitch that was a far cry from the batting friendly strips that the batsmen enjoyed during the recent World T20 Tournament. Batting first they managed just 121, thanks in the main to Harbhajan who smashed 45 from 30 deliveries at the end of the innings.
When Pune came to bat, the pitch had lost most of its demons, and with Ajinkya Rahane unbeaten on 66 from 42 balls, the visitors won their first ever match in the IPL with over 5-overs remaining, to get off to a dream start.