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Struggling KKR face Daredevils

Last Updated 15 April 2018, 12:46 IST

Skipper Dinesh Karthik will face a big test when a struggling Kolkata Knight Riders lock horns with a resurgent Delhi Daredevils, led by double title-winning former KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir, in a much-anticipated IPL clash here on Monday.

After back-to-back defeats, the Karthik-led KKR will be desperate for a revival, while Delhi will hope to continue their momentum after snapping a two-match losing streak in style against Mumbai Indians on Saturday.

Kolkata had made a winning start to their campaign against Royals Challenger Bangalore but successive defeats to Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the next two matches have put them in a spot of bother.

Delhi, on the other hand, lost to Kings XI Punjab in their opener and then went down against Rajasthan Royals in a rain-hit match. But the Gambhir-led side bounced back in style against Mumbai with Jason Roy smashing an unbeaten 91 in his debut match for DD.

DD's Kolkata leg fixture means their Team India speedster Mohammed Shami is all set to return to his hometown for the first time after his wife had accused him of infidelity and domestic abuse last month.

In the latest development, Jahan has filed a case at Alipore court on April 10 and Shami has been summoned within 15 days.

On the field, it will be Gambhir who will have the upper hand despite DD's poor 8-12 head-to-head record against KKR.

Gambhir, who was associated with KKR since 2011, has better knowledge of the conditions and he will be keen to make a point against his former franchise, who did not retain him this year.

Included in the DD side at the expense of Colin Munro, Roy showed his prowess with a sizzling display as the Englishmen smashed his career-best T20 score to pull off a tricky last ball victory. Gambhir can heave a sigh of relief after their batting combination clicked following some experimentation in the first two matches.

For KKR, bringing in-form Sunil Narine down the order did not help their cause and he might be back at his opening slot. KKR also need to back the under-19 World Cup winning duo of Shubman Gill and Shivam Mavi.

The youngster duo didn't get enough time in the middle to prove itself as Gill, primarily a No 3 batsman, came only at No 7, while Mavi's raw pace and energy were left untested as he was not introduced during the Power Play.

Karthik would also hope that his deputy Robin Uthappa, who is a KKR veteran, shoulders more responsibility with the bat as his scores of 13, 29 and 3 have been a big letdown.

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(Published 15 April 2018, 12:04 IST)

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