After losing their last two games, Delhi Daredevils (DD) will be eager to come up with a better performance against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who won their last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. DD face KKR at Eden Gardens on Thursday.
KKR are a very strong side at home, where they receive massive support from their fans, hence it is not going to be an easy outing for DD as well. The Daredevils lie on sixth position of the IPL standings table, while KKR, who lie on fourth place, can move up the table with a win against SRH.
The game between the two will witness some big players going head to head against one another during the crucial encounters.
Here is a look at some players who can change the game with their heroics.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Robin Uthappa: The wicket-keeper batsman has been in terrific form with the willow as he has scored 276 runs in nine IPL matches so far. Batting at the top of the order, the batsman has been consistent and has given some great start to his team and players such as Andre Russell has taken full advantage of it. Uthappa, who does not bludgeon the ball much, depends on his timing to clear the fence. When on song, he can even make the best of the bowlers' looks foolish.
Brad Hogg: T20 is said to be a young man's game, but Brad Hogg,44, has proved it wrong with the ball in his hand, as he has put up an amazing performance in the four games he has played taking eight wickets. The Australian was not a first choice spinner, but he has used his years of experience to good effect in the competition. He averages an impressive 10.87 so far and with the confidence he has gained in the last few matches, he is expected to be KKR's number one spinner on Thursday as well.
Delhi Daredevils
JP Duminy: The South African batsman has been consistent in scoring runs at will. Even when his team mates might have struggled, he has stood out as the lone batsman to counter both the spinners as well as the fast bowlers with ease. He has amassed 304 runs in IPL 2015 with a strike rate of 130.47. The Proteas batsman has played fearless cricket and has struck 16 sixes. He has led the team from the front with not only his batting, but also his bowling as he has taken eight wickets so far.
Shreyas Iyer: Very little was known about the DD player before IPL 2015 started, but his batting exploits have made people sit up and take notice as he has scored 309 runs in the competition. The right-hander, despite his lack of experience at such a stage has looked very composed in the batting crease. Alongside Duminy, Iyer has been a consistent batsman with three half-centuries so far.
