Kolkata Knight Riders

Shah Rukh Khan the promoter of the team is led by the former Indian Captain Ganguly.

In Sourav Ganguly, they also have a charismatic leader and they definitely appear one of the stronger teams in the fray.

Ricky ponting is leaving to play for his home side but the side as good bowlers in Ishant sharma the newly found lad, Shoiab Akthar, Umar gul and Murali Karthick.

If Ganguly plays the way he played recently in Australia where he was hitting the ball nicely and scoring at a brisk pace, then this could be one of the favourites on the other hand if he goes slow in his batting, this team may never see the semi-finals

Batsman

Sourav Ganguly (Captain)

Ricky Ponting

Chris Gayle

Salman Butt

Aakash Chopra

David Hussey

Cheteshwar Pujara

Debabrata Das

Rohan Banerjee

Yashpal Singh

All Rounders

Ajit Agarkar

Mohammad Hafeez

Laxmi Ratan Shukla

Bowlers

Ishant Sharma

Shoaib Akhtar

Umar Gul

Murali Kartik

Saurasish Lahiri

Siddarth Kaul

Iqbal Abdulla

Wicket Keepers

Brendon McCullum

Tatenda Taibu

Prasanta Saha

Coaches

Head Coach - John Buchnan

Assistant Coach - Matthew Mott

Physiotherapist - Andrew Leipus

Franchises

Franchisee: Red Chiilies Entertainment

Franchise cost: $79.09 Millions

14th May 2008

Match against Delhi Daredevils

Did Shohaib Aktar's bowling was terrific for the Bombay wickets to fall like they fell.

Closely observing the top 3 batsmen were out for indiscreet shots and put their team into trouble.

To say the least the basic method of cricket was not followed, every batsmen were out of their head.

When a skilful snick is all they needed and... simple gliding and placing of Shoiab Aktar's ball for a single is all they needed they needlessly went for shots. They went for shots as if they are chasing a mamoth huge total of 200+. Not one but three batsmen in the top order.

Enters the middle order batsmen. They do the opposite of what their top order batsmen did. Here shots were needed since Ganguly and spinners were bowling. But funnily they went about playing as if, if they get 3 runs per over they can win the match.

On the whole this team Delhi never deserves to be in the Semi-final having headless people.

Delhi at last fell 23 short chasing Kolkata's 133 in this battle for the fourth spot in the points table.

Shoaib was gifted Delhi's top order batsmen, taking Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, AB de Villiers and Manoj Tiwary in one breathless spell that read 3-0-11-4. This time, there would be no confused loyalties for Eden Garden's 100,000 spectators. They were firmly behind the home side, meeting each bit of the Knight Riders' success with frenzied cheering, while receiving Delhi's boundaries and wickets with stoned silence. There was Shah Rukh Khan who on his part was full of cheers and at the end of the match hugging Akthar.

Sehwag edged his first ball behind. Next over, Shoaib had Gambhir slap one straight to point. In the next over, de Villiers mistimed a pull and the next ball Tiwary was plumb in front, the ball pitched outside the off line and came in to hit his pad. Sometimes these LBW's are not given, but the umpire ruled it in favour of Shoaib who was hitting the 150-kmph mark.

Ferveez Maharoof and Tillakaratne Dilshan had the match in their hand. Both fell to spectacular run outs. Dilshan couldn't beat throw from Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Maharoof was caught napping by a direct hit from Ashok Dinda in his follow through. Dilshan ran for run which needed have taken at all. Mahroof ran like a tortoise thinking that he will be spared. He had all the time in the world to keep the bat before the ball hit the wicket, but he did not do so for the reasons best known to him. He would have lost his sleep. How much is he a experienced player?!

With the match teetering at 30 runs needed from the last 18, Kolkata captain Sourav Ganguly handed the ball to Shukla, who hadn't bowled in the innings. The risk paid off. Shukla cleaned up the Delhi tail in that over, taking 3-6 in five balls.

Earlier in the day, Ganguly had elected to bat on a wicket that looked good for batting. But only Salman Butt (48) and David Hussey (31) could get runs to reach a not so defendable total.

Leg spinner Amit Mishra had figures of 3-0-13-0 and thereby controlled the free flow of runs and had the match swing in Delhi's way. Maharoof (4-0-25-2), Pradeep Sangwan (4-0-29-1) and Yo Mahesh (4-0-33-2) did a terrific job along with Glenn McGrath (4-0-22-0), who was also at his best.