The Kolkata Knight Riders will host the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the fourth game of the Indian Premier League at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

The Knight Riders have already won their first game of the tournament against the Chargers, and will look to make it two in two at home. This is Bangalore’s opening fixture.

The Knight Riders (11/10 at Stan James to win their second game in a row) did win the first game of the tournament, but it was not a flawless performance. Fortunately for them, the Chargers were the more rusty of the two sides, and ended second despite having enough of an opportunity to win the game. While Bangalore (favourites at 5/6 at Sky Bet to open campaign with a win) will look to take advantage of the opportunities that Kolkata may offer, even they will need some time together to overcome the lack of cricket in a long time.

Kolkata were lucky to get away with a score of 161 after being 57/4 at one stage in the Deccan game. They need to ensure that the top-order gets into the thick of things because 100-run partnerships – as was the case between Owais Shah and Angelo Mathews – are not as commonplace in this format. Sourav Ganguly probably needs to open the innings and take charge, and send the likes of Manoj Tiwari down the order. This will also ensure that someone like a Brad Hodge will have an experienced head at the other end.

Bangalore will miss the services of Kevin Pietersen in this game – and some of the others – but will be propped up by the likes of the Indian batsmen in the side. Robin Uthappa (11/2 at Stan James to top-score for Bangalore) should open the innings, whereas another excitable youngster in Manish Pandey (4/1 at Sky Bet to be the best batsman) – who had only recently slammed a sizzling ton in the finals of the Ranji Trophy – will look to bat in the top five as well.

However, the onus will lie in the hands of the senior batsmen like Rahul Dravid (7/2 at Sky Bet) and Jacques Kallis (3/1 at Bet Fred, both, to top-score for their side). Dravid is returning back to cricket after a injuries had kept him out, whereas Kallis is coming off a superb hundred against India in an ODI.

Tips:
Favourites: Royal Challengers Bangalore (5/6 at Sky Bet)
Top Bangalore batsman: Jacques Kallis (3/1 at Bet Fred)
Top Kolkata batsman: Sourav Ganguly