What
The magnificent Eden Gardens in Kolkata will play host to Match 2 of IPL 2012 featuring hosts Kolkata Knight Riders and the Delhi Daredevils. KKR have had a mixed run in the IPL so far and will start their 2012 campaign with the hope of bettering their performance in the previous seasons. Delhi Daredevils, on the other hand, will look to start off on a high, setting the tone for a successful season; they have never progressed beyond the semi-final stage of the IPL.
When
Thursday, April 5, 2011, 08:00 p.m.
Where
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
The Protagonists
Keep your eyes on Delhi and India’s opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, who will be wearing different jerseys in this game. 2012 hasn’t been the greatest of years for the opening duo; the IPL gives them the chance to go out and express themselves – they could be doubly hungry and doubly dangerous.
Also look out for the big-hitting Yusuf Pathan and Jacques Kallis in the KKR line-up. The former holds the record for scoring the fastest hundred in the IPL (in 37 balls against Mumbai Indians) and is capable of winning matches single-handedly – even from dire situations. Kallis, 36-years-old now, was in outstanding form in IPL 2011, and as always, he will be looking at overcoming the challenges thrown at him.
Previous Meetings
Both Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders have shared honours in the six previous meetings between them. KKR will believe they hold the edge over their opponents given they’ve won their last two matches against DD.
Trivia
• Kolkata Knight Riders have beaten the Delhi Daredevils both times they’ve faced them at the Eden Gardens.
• Kolkata Knight Riders’ Yusuf Pathan is among the top three six-hitters in the IPL. He has so far hit 74 sixes in 58 matches in four editions of the IPL.
• Kolkata Knight Riders’ Shakib-al-Hasan won the Player-of-the-Tournament award in the recently concluded Asia Cup.
What next?
Post this fixture, Delhi Daredevils travel down south to take on Royal Challengers Bangalore at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 7, while the Kolkata Knight Riders will be seen in action the following day when they take on the Rajasthan Royals at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
