Knight Riders skipper Sourav Ganguly will lock horns with fellow Indian great Sachin Tendulkar tonight in a match that promises to be one of high excitement and thrills at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.
The prospect of Ganguly and Tendulkar, India's most iconic opening partnership in ODIs, battling it out as rival skippers is a delicious prospect for cricket fans. This individual battle within a battle, at Tendulkar's home ground, is certain to provide fireworks that will light up the night.
Both teams are coming off victories. Both teams are eyeing a semi-final spot. There's much at stake, and the tension in the air is palpable.
For the Knight Riders, the opening combination is still a worry. Salman Butt will probably retain his spot after his crucial knock against Delhi, but Aakash Chopra has been far too slow getting of the blocks. Buchanan will be tempted to play Wridhiman Saha or even Laxmi Rattan Shukla up the order, or maybe pick Debabrata Das instead of Chopra. The middle order looks a little more solid, with Ganguly, Hussey and Shukla showing form. Whatever they do, the Knights will have to get it right if they are to deal with the wiles of Shaun Pollock with the new ball. After a shaky start, Aashish Nehra, too has hit a good rhythm, and Dwayne Bravo and Dhaval Kulkarni round off a decent attack for the Indians.
Kolkata has been one of the IPL's strongest bowling sides, and the explosive return of Shoaib Akhtar has established them as an attack to fear. Ishant Sharma seems to have lost his initial consistency, but remains a threat. Dinda and Ganguly figure among the most economical bowlers in the IPL, and have struck at crucial times. To contain a line-up that includes Tendulkar, Jayasuriya, Uthappa, Bravo and Pollock, they will need to be at their best. It will be an absorbing contest.
Will Ganguly outwit the Indians? Will Shoaib carry on from where he left off against Delhi? Knight Riders fans, you don't want to miss this one.
Winners 
Winners 
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