IPL 2012 Live: Chennai Super Kings v Kolkata Knight Riders Preview

In what is expected to be a fiercely contested encounter, Chennai Super Kings will face off Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday in the 41st match of the Indian Premier League. The two teams are well-placed on the points table and would ideally seek more points as competition intensifies.

Kolkata Knight Riders have 11 points from nine matches thus far, and their crushing win against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday has given them tremendous confidence to topple the big stars.

Captain Gautam Gambhir blazed his way to 93 off just 51 balls including five sixes. He was well supported by Brendon McCullum and Jacques Kallis who chipped in with 40s. The bowlers did a fine job of defending 190 as Bangalore scored at under six runs per over through most part of the innings. Sunil Narine will hold the key against a formidable Chennai line-up while Brett Lee’s form is also heartening for the Knight Riders.

Chennai Super Kings succumbed to their second consecutive defeat with a seven-run loss against Kings XI Punjab on Saturday. They are now in third place with nine points from as many matches and another loss here could put their plans of making it to the top four in major jeopardy.

For the MS Dhoni-led team, the problem lies with the batting as yet again they failed to converts starts into match-winning scores. Dwayne Bravo gave a glimmer of hope with 30-run knock including two sixes but the flurry of wickets towards the end was always going to make the task difficult.

Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja need to do justice to the talent and expectations attached to them while Faf du Plessis will look to march his way toward more runs having scored three half-centuries already.

Shadab Jakati struggled with the ball but his place does not seem to under any immediate threat.

The match will be played at the Chidambram Stadium in Chennai, starting at 8.00pm.