IPL 2017: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab, 5 factors of winning

#3 Strategy

Eden Gardens has a relaid surface

Over the years, the surface at Eden Gardens has had a history of assisting the spinners but it was relaid recently and this will be the first game of the IPL to be played on the new deck. KKR have kept a flurry of spinners in the squad always but things can change now.

The most recent ODI that was played between India and England earlier this year in Kolkata had produced a run feast. The visitors had scored 321 runs batting first and India almost got there but fell short by just five runs.

The noticeable thing from the match was that Indian spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja went for over 6 runs an over and even the pacers didn’t have a great time. The batsmen enjoyed a nice outing there which gives an indication of what could be expected from that surface in the IPL.

The trend in the IPL so far has been to bowl first after winning the toss and it would be the favourable choice in Kolkata as well. When there in not much idea of the conditions, it would be better to send the opposition in first. KXIP have won both the games so far while chasing and KKR too achieved their solitary victory batting second and once more chasing should be the order of the day.