Teams in need of urgent recovery
Cricinfo previews the return match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai
Match facts
Chennai v Kolkata, ChennaiTuesday, April 13
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)
Big Picture
Dispiriting defeats in their previous games have left Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in the lower half of the IPL and, with just three games each to play, Tuesday's match could push the losing team perilously close to elimination. A good win for Chennai, on the other hand, will, at the least, take them to fourth place and if the day's other game ends in a big defeat for Delhi, they could climb to third.Form guide (most recent first)
Kolkata Knight Riders: LWLWLChennai Super Kings: LWWWL
Team talk
Ishant Sharma returned for Kolkata against Bangalore but was blasted for 46 in four wicketless overs. Ajantha Mendis was just as bad, conceding 44 and being reverse-swept for sixes by Robin Uthappa. Shane Bond is likely to return, as is Murali Kartik, who had been out due to a groin injury. If Kartik is unable to recover, Iqbal Abdulla could be called in.Previously
Chennai 3, Kolkata 1In the spotlight
Kolkata's young Indian contingent: Criticised by their captain, they have much to prove. Manoj Tiwary was dismissed for a duck against Bangalore, and Kolkata depend much on him to consolidate after the top three. Cheteshwar Pujara played an eight-ball cameo, but hasn't had too many opportunities, nor has Wriddhiman Saha with the bat. A player Ganguly has singled out for praise is Ashok Dinda, and his sharing the new ball with Bond should make exciting viewing.Prime numbers
- Chennai have done better than Kolkata in the last six overs. They've scored 605 runs at a rate of 9.45, Kolkata 579 at 8.95. Both teams have lost 25 wickets.
The chatter
"They have to pick themselves up, there's no option. The entire world is watching, the selectors are watching... if they play like this, God help their careers."Sourav Ganguly's message for the youngsters is clear.
Siddhartha Talya is an editorial assistant at Cricinfo