The Kolkata Knight Riders will look to move one step closer towards sealing a spot in the playoffs with a victory over the Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday night.
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Match 47 is scheduled for an 8 pm IST (11.30 am BST, 6.30 am ET) start with live coverage on Sony Six and Sony Max in India. The game 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 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. 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.
KKR will be happy to finally play in front of their own fans, with Eden Gardens, no doubt, set to give their home team a warm welcome back as the Knight Riders look to win their remaining three matches – all to be played in Kolkata – to ensure they will be playing in the knockout phase of the tournament.
The Knight Riders are riding a wave of success at the moment, winning their previous four games, and all of them pretty convincingly too. Robin Uthappa's form has been stellar at the top, with Gautam Gamhhir also chipping in handsomely, while KKR have been boosted by the return of form of Yusuf Pathan, who for a long while looked like he had forgotten how to score runs.
Pathan was instrumental in KKR's 143-run chase against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday, making an unbeaten 39, and if the burly all-rounder can continue to make that willow talk, then the Kolkata franchise could be in for another long run in the tournament.
"I was always confident that I would get my 'A' game to the fore very soon," Pathan told IPL's official website. "I got my chance [against SRH] – the situation was perfect and it is heartening to put up a match-winning performance for my side. We needed to win the game and I am glad I could do my bit of helping my team cross the line.
"I was never low on confidence. There were times when I was sent in to bat when there were just two or three overs to spare. At that time, if I fail to score, everyone gets a feeling that I am low on confidence and out of form. I have always had tremendous self-belief and knew I will be getting my runs soon.
"I had a good domestic season with the bat and won a lot of matches there as well. I was spending a lot of time in the middle, which helped me get in good touch. The domestic season kept me in a positive frame of mind for the IPL and it was always a matter of time that I got going in the IPL.
"Till the time you feel that you have a good bat speed and you are hitting the ball well, there is nothing to worry. I was just waiting for an opportunity where I could show that the match-winner in me was still alive, and [in Hyderabad], it was on display."
KKR are currently in fourth place, the final playoff spot, having picked up six wins in 11 matches, thanks to their four-match winning streak. Their closest rivals are the Royal Challengers Bangalore, who could join them on 14 points with a win at the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the early game.
RCB, SRH and MI will be hoping CSK do them a favour by toppling KKR at the Eden Gardens, with the Super Kings, no doubt, keen to bounce back from the defeat to the Royal Challengers on Sunday.
MS Dhoni's magic wand did not quite come to the fore in that game in Ranchi, with the CSK skipper's decision to give David Hussey the final over in a tight game working in RCB's favour. However, CSK, on 16 points, comfortably perched in second, will not worry about the loss too much, and will go into the game in Kolkata fully expecting to confirm their playoff place.
