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Gautam Gambhir’s KKR team has already lost thirteen matches and is almost out of the play offs. However, the skipper continues to be very optimistic about having a fair chance, this IPL season. He feels that the team can make the cut definitely in the ongoing games. He feels that the competition is still open at the moment. For KKR, the most important thing that matters is the three games that remain to be played. On Sunday the cricket match with RCB has to be a must-win, Gautam Gambhir, has stated to reporters. He hopes that his team tries its level best and delivers what it should.

Virat Kohli, the 24 years old RCB captain, who at various occasions like the rest of the cricketers likes to flaunt Oakley, Nike, Addidas and other branded sunglasses criticized the crowds at Wankhede Stadium for jeering him in a recent cricket match against Mumbai Indians. The visitors had requested for a decision by the third empire on an incident of a controversial run out and this request turned out in their favor. The agitated crowd booed the 24 year old Kohli and called him a ‘cheat’. He faced the ire of the crowd when he came for his batting and also during the presentation post-match.

The RCB team led by Virat Kohli has been faring well against the Delhi Daredevils. When Gambhir was asked about the kind of strategy he will be applying to counter AB de Villiers, Kohli and Chris Gayle, and the likes, he stated that his team does not strategize against any particular cricketer. He also said that his team does not discuss individuals and their main aim is to determine what can be done best to win, and keep sticking to their strength. To counter the strong cricket team RCB, the captain of the KKR team has also pinned hopes on the player Sunil Narine.

All five matches played by Mumbai Indians on their home ground so far have been won by them in the IPL 2013. It appears that even though Kolkata Knight Riders are cutting it fine for a berth in the playoffs, they are yet not out of the IPL race. At the Pepsi IPL 2013, if they had not been defending champions, they would have already been written off. A lot is being expected from the KKR team as far as pushing the Mumbai Indians team at the 7th May match is concerned. The match is to be played at the Wankhede Stadium and the so far the MI team has won only five IPL cricket matches. They achieved the most unlikely result possible during the last match played when they gained a victory by 60 runs over Chennai Super Kings.

KKR team needs to be aware that with a superb performance of that kind, the reputation as well as morale of almost any team can be raised. Everything seems to be in fine fettle, apart from the struggle of identify the best seamer at number three, from Pawan Suyal, Munaf Patel, Rishi Dhawan and Dhawal Kulkarni who have all been tried and the poor form of Sachin Tendulkar at the batting order at the top. The Mumbai Indians team has many pluses and just one and a half minuses.

As far as the bowling attack from the KKR team is concerned, Dwayne Smith, bowler has done quite well more often thus ensuring some great memories for the team. Just 15 days back, in Kolkata during a 45 ball 62 with five sixes and three fours, he tore apart the bowling attack from the Kolkata team. In the middle order there are three pillars including Dinesh Karthik, Rohit Sharma and Smith, even if Dinesh Karthik’s form has been seen dipping down from where it was at the beginning of the tournament. During the last few overs of the last innings, good care was taken by Ambati Rayudu and Kieron Pollard.

Bowling of the Mumbai Indian bowlers is quite lethal which the Kolkata batsmen who misfire need to be aware of well. Mitchell Johnson has been consistent enough about picking up of wickets. Pragyan Ojha and Harbhajan Singh have been successful in striking regularly and have conceded runs at giving away, less than seven runs per over. Even if Lasith Malinga has not been too much amongst the wickets, but whenever he was given the ball, he has been keeping things tight.