More high quality action will be on display in the fifth season of the Indian Premier League as Kolkata Knight Riders face Royal Challengers Bangalore in the second match of the day.
Kolkata is the venue for the match where both sides will be eager to get back in action after their respective last matches were washed away by rain.
Kolkata Knight Riders, second on the points table currently, have nine points from eight matches so far. They also hold the psychological edge heading into the match having come out on top of their opponents in the earlier meeting with a 42-run win.
Kolkata will rely on their renowned names to deliver the goods with the bat, as Gautam Gambhir and Jacques Kallis look to shoulder most of the responsibility. Manoj Tiwary and Manvinder Bisla have provided them commendable support in the absence of a firing Yusuf Pathan. With the ball, Sunil Narine stands out as the star performer with ten wickets, and that too at an economical run rate.
Laksmipathy Balaji has done reasonably well also while Shakib Al Hasan lends a perfect balance to the side.
Royal Challengers Bangalore also have nine points from eight matches and are currently placed fourth on the points table. They have oscillated between ordinary and extraordinary performances, and will be hoping to not repeat their mistakes that led to their defeat against Kolkata earlier in the tournament.
None of the top six batsmen were able to reach 20 runs then. Daniel Vettori, the captain, has a responsibility to marshal his troops accordingly. However, it remains to be seen whether he plays this game.
The team is expected to enter the field without Muttiah Muralitharan yet again. Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers, two explosive batsmen in rich form, will hold the key with the bat while Zaheer Khan could come good with the ball.
The match will start at 8.00pm in Kolkata.