‘Well begun is half done’ should be the mantra for Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru when they, led by new captains Ajinkya Rahane and Rajat Patidar respectively, meet in the much-awaited Indian Premier League-18 season opener at the iconic Eden Gardens here on Saturday night.
Despite the rain threat, the fans are excited to witness some high-quality action preceded by a music-and-dance show, starring actor Disha Patani and singer Shreya Ghosal, as an IPL opener returns to the Eden after a decade.
Armed with the wisdom of Rahane and Virat Kohli, the two well-balanced sides will look to adapt to the pitch, known for staging high-scoring entertainers, quickly.
A 20-14 win-loss record, including a thrilling one-run win here in their last encounter, against RCB will give defending champion KKR a psychological edge.
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With a semi-new setup at the helm and a seasoned bunch in its core, the KKR steering wheel has changed hands from the exuberant Shreyas Iyer to a mature and composed Rahane.
While Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine can provide a brisk start, Rahane and his deputy Venkatesh Iyer will remain flexible. Trusted accelerators Rinku Singh and Andre Russell will await the death overs.
Mystery spinners Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy and pacers Harshit Rana and Anrich Nortjea or Spencer Johnson will be important components in KKR’s attack.
KKR players during practice session at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
| Photo Credit:
RITU RAJ KONWAR
KKR players during practice session at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
| Photo Credit:
RITU RAJ KONWAR
Patidar, with the added responsibility of captaincy, and Kohli will be RCB’s batting mainstays. Former KKR opener Phil Salt will perform his explosive role in different colours, while the giant Tim David can be useful later.
ALSO READ | Royal Challengers Bengaluru Preview: Squad, Stats & Predicted XI
Pacers Josh Hazelwood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal and spinners Liam Livingstone and Krunal Pandya are prominent faces in RCB bowling.
The contest, the first one with new regulations, should be fascinating.