IPL 2014: Match 1 Preview - Mumbai Indians vs. Kolkata Knight Riders

Gautam Gambhir, the Kolkata Knight Riders captain

The Indian summer is here, and perhaps its most defining feature apart from the heat and the humidity is all set to make a grand comeback in a new and a polished avatar. With a host of international and domestic players – comprising of retired, current and even banned players – the 7th season of the IPL promises 7 weeks of high octane drama both on and off the field.

The first match of this season is to be played between the reigning champions Mumbai Indians and the 2012 IPL winners, Kolkata Knight Riders, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Having made it to the playoffs for four successive season, Mumbai Indians, over the last six seasons of the IPL, have been one of the most consistent sides. Owned by the richest man in India, Mukesh Ambani, the franchise is known for spending big bucks at the auctions on players and then making them warm the bench for the entire season. This year’s auction was a mixed feeling for this team, as they lost their two most consistent players in Dinesh Karthik and Dwayne Bravo but managed to grab the new sensation Corey Anderson apart from Josh Hazlewood, Ben Dunk and Mike Hussey

Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, have been the most talked about side in the IPL, thanks to all the controversies the owners, management and the players get themselves into both on and off the field. Owned by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, it is one of the most followed and loved franchise in the IPL. KKR gained heavily from this auction, as they managed to grab some good Indian players like Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa, Umesh Yadav, Piyush Chawla and Vinay Kumar, something that they missed dearly in the last season.

Build-up

With only a 10-day gap between the World T20 and the IPL, it is obvious that the players will hardly get any time to bond with their teammates before the season. Both the teams, though, have managed to keep the core of their side intact, unlike some of the other teams who have undergone a complete shuffle.

Having won the last season of the IPL and the Champions League, Mumbai Indians come into this tournament high on confidence. Despite their star player Sachin Tendulkar not being a part of the side any longer, they still have the experience and the ammunition in their batting in the form of Hussey and Rohit Sharma to more than make up for this loss. Zaheer Khan’s return to the bowling line-up, after a gap of 3 years, provides them the much-needed Indian seamer to partner Lasith Malinga, something they have missed since the third season. The spin twins Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha promise to be a handful on the slow wickets of the Middle East. Corey Anderson and Kieron Pollard in the middle order provide firepower to the batting line-up.

Kolkata Knight Riders come into this tournament with most of their players looking to prove a point to the national selectors. The team is certainly high on promise, but it is their consistency that will be tested. Led by Indian discard Gautam Gambhir and comprising of Jacques Kallis, Yusuf, Morne Morkel, Chawla, Vinay, Robin Uthappa and Umesh Yadav, none of who are certainties in their national squads for the shortest format of the game, they will certainly be low on confidence at the start. However, the desire to remind the world about their presence is sure to spur the former champs. Mystery spinner Sunil Narine will be back to doing what he does the best: bamboozle batsmen on surfaces conducive to his style of bowling.

IPL Performance:

Year	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
Mumbai Indians	5th out of 8 teams	7th out of 8 teams	Finalists	3rd out of 10 teams	4th out of 9 teams	Winners
KKR	6th out of 8 teams	8th out of 8 teams	6th out of 8 teams	4th out of 10 teams	Winners	7th out of 9 teams

Key Players:

Mumbai Indians:

1. Rohit Sharma- He is back to where his dream run began last season, when he was made the captain after Ricky Ponting stepped aside. Returning to the middle order, a position that suits his style of play in T20s, his power hitting and his partnerships with the lower-middle order will go a long way in determining Mumbai’s success in the IPL. His ability to score against pace will hold him in good stead against the likes of Morne Morkel and Umesh Yadav.

2. Lasith Malinga – Riding high on confidence on the back of a brilliant spell against India to guide the Lankans to their second World Cup win only a week ago, the slinger would be very keen to continue his dream run for his franchise. The KKR batsmen will surely find it difficult to negotiate and score off his accurate toe-crushing yorkers. His bowling will play a huge role in keeping hard hitters like Yusuf Pathan and Robin Uthappa quiet. In unfavourable conditions to fast bowlers, his pace and experience will certainly help the Mumbai Indians.