Win or go home: Not much separates Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL Eliminator

If past records count for something then Kolkata have a slight advantage over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator on Wednesday where there is not much to pick from the two IPL sides, writes Kumar Shyam.

Kolkata Knight Riders bowler Sunil Narine, right, celebrates with teammates including captain Gautam Gambhir, second right, after the dismissal of Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner, left. AFP / Dibyangshu SARKAR
Powered by automated translation

If past records count for something then Kolkata have a slight advantage over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator on Wednesday where there is not much to pick from the two Indian Premier League (IPL) sides.

Kolkata can fall back on their two-time champion status for comfort but they have been far more inconsistent in head-to-head against Hyderabad.

The good news is that they have been tested well and have more recent momentum with other players such as Yusuf Pathan and chinaman bowler Kuldeep stepping up in batting and bowling when the key men failed.

Read more: 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL) final table, play-offs schedule

Also see: Virat Kohli and Bangalore momentum will test Gujarat consistency in IPL play-offs

Captain Gautam Gambhir has used his thinking cap to get the most of his team. Speaking to StarSports after the final group game against Delhi Daredevils, Gambhir said: “Yusuf is taking time and his role has changed from being a finisher only. We are now giving him more runs.”

And the captain made it a point to mention the contribution of Yadav, who took two wickets, in a column for Hindustan Times. "A chinaman bowler is bragging about newly-learnt amateur magical tricks at a family get-together. It can get awfully embarrassing if they don't. Kuldeep bowled with a lot of courage."

Hyderabad still rely on David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan for their run quota. The absence of Ashish Nehra has hurt even though they have the brilliant Mustafizur Rahman, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Barinder Sran in the pace department.

The spin department is empty, though, and could prove to be the difference in this batting-heavy format.

While leg-spinner Karn Sharma and Yuvraj Singh have disappointmented for Hyderabad, Kolkata are spoilt for choice with Yadav, Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla and the left-arm all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan.

Kolkata also were the better of the two sides in both legs of the group stage. But all the effort will come a cropper for the losing team who will bow out of the tournament.

KMotwani@thenational.ae

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport