Match facts
Friday, March 12Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)
It's the first IPL match of 60 matches: The defending champions taking on wooden-spoon winners, after a flashy opening ceremony, amid high security at a stadium neither calls home. What stakes does the first bout of IPL 2010 hold, when the contestants know they have 13 to follow? Not much in isolation, given the unpredictability of the format and the duration of the tournament, but Kolkata Knight Riders, who've won only nine out of 28 previous IPL matches during campaigns fraught with controversy, would love to hit the ground running.
Team
Kolkata have only six overseas players to choose from at the moment: Brad Hodge, Owais Shah, Ajantha Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Mashrafe Mortaza and Charl Langeveldt. The likes of Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle, David Hussey and Shane Bond will join the squad only after their international commitments. It's likely that Mendis and Mortaza will be the ones to miss out on the opening game. Ajit Agarkar did not train on the eve of the match because of a calf strain and is likely to sit out as well. Kolkata signed up an Under-19 player, Mandeep Singh, 48 hours ago and he is reportedly in their scheme of things.
Deccan don't have a choice regarding their overseas players for the first game. They have only four in the squad so Adam Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Symonds and Chaminda Vaas will play. It's a bit of a concern since Gilchrist, Symonds and Vaas have been out of competitive cricket while Gibbs has been struggling for form with South Africa. They have a strong Indian contingent, though, with VVS Laxman and Rohit Sharma bolstering the batting, and RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha leading the bowling.
Previously…
Kolkata beat Deccan in both matches during the 2008 season: by five wickets at home and by 23 runs away. Deccan, however, won both matches during the 2009 season in South Africa, beating Kolkata by eight and six wickets.
In the spotlight
Charl Langeveldt v Deccan's openers: Adam Gilchrist has spent another year without playing much competitive cricket and his opening partner Gibbs isn't in prime form anymore. In Langeveldt, Kolkata possess a clever bowler capable of taking crucial wickets and Gilchrist's will be the prize scalp. Langeveldt played only one game last season so, if given an opportunity tomorrow, he'll be keen to stake his claim before Shane Bond arrives.
Owais Shah: Kolkata acquired Shah from Delhi this season, in exchange for Moises Henriques, to bolster a batting line-up that is missing McCullum, Gayle and Hussey during the early stages. Shah spent the entire season on the sidelines for Delhi in 2009 so he'll be desperate to make an impact in his first IPL opportunity. Those who watched his 72 off 48 balls in an ODI in Bangalore, and his 98 against South Africa in the Champions Trophy will know what damage Shah can cause with his innovative technique.
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