The Kolkata Knight Riders will look to strengthen their grip on fourth spot, while landing a major blow to one of their rivals for the final playoff position when they host the Mumbai Indians in Cuttack in an IPL 2014 game on Wednesday.
Where to Watch Live:
Get the report HERE
The game is scheduled for an 8 pm IST (3.30 pm BST, 10.30 am ET) start with live coverage on Sony Six (English) and Sony Max (Hindi) in India. The match can also be watched via live streaming online HERE or HERE. Viewers in the US can catch the game on Willow TV or with the live streaming option HERE, while Canada viewers can do the same HERE. Watch the match in the rest of the world HERE, HERE or through the GoCricket apps.
Viewers in the Middle East can watch the action on OSN with the live streaming option available HERE, while New Zealand viewers can do the same via Sky NZ or HERE or via the above rest of the world options. Viewers in the UK can catch the match on ITV, while Pakistan viewers can do the same on Geo Super, with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh audience able to watch the game on TV on Masaranga TV and Carlton Sports Network respectively.
KKR currently sit in the fourth and final playoff position, with four wins from nine matches, the same as the Sunrisers Hyderabad, who can go to 10 points with a win over Kings XI Punjab in the early game on Wednesday.
The Knight Riders are on a two-match winning streak with the former champions easily dispatching both Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab in their last two matches with supreme batting performances.
Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa's form at the top has been a major factor for KKR's resurgence, and the opening duo will look to continue their early assault, which in turn releases the pressure on the middle order, which has been iffy at best in IPL 2014.
"It's nice to contribute to the team's success," said Gambhir, who struggled to even trouble the scorers in his first few games of IPL 7. "Robin has taken a lot of pressure off me, the way he is batting, especially after he started opening."
KKR will not find it easy against the Mumbai Indians, though, with the defending champions aware of the problems with slipping up after their dreadfully slow start to the season.
MI can move level with KKR on eight points with a win at the Barabati Stadium, with a victory taking them just that one step closer to stealing the fourth and final playoff position.
MI were quite impressive against SRH in their last match, with the batsmen easily chasing down a target of 158, as Lendl Simmons and Ambati Rayudu struck form at the right time.
"It was a perfect game, the most clinical performance put up by us," Rohit said. "This is our capability and we always expect this performance. We bowled well to restrict them and to chase it down like that was superb."
Much of MI's hopes this season rest on their batting. Too many times the batsmen have fallen short and out too much pressure on the bowlers. If the obviously talented batting lineup can find their rhythm consistently for the remaining five matches in the regular season, then MI will be there or thereabouts in the fight for the final playoff place.
KKR, after a disappointing season last year, though, will be equally desperate to make amends this campaign, and toppling one of their key rivals will be a huge step towards that goal.
