Do-or-die Eliminator awaits Mumbai, Kolkata

It's winner takes all - well, one step closer to a berth in the final at least - as the Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders lock horns across their Indian Premier League Eliminator.

Sunday's thrilling deadrubber between the two side's offered a sumptuous foretelling as to what to expect come Wednesday, and with both XIs expected to be largely the same, another cracker awaits Wankhede Stadium.

While Kolkata are set to remain unchanged, Mumbai will surely resign Zimbabwean recruit Ray Price's hopes of an extended stay in the team to the backburner by returning Munaf Patel to partner Lasith Malinga with the new ball.

Eden Gardens afforded a spinner alongside a seamer at first bite, but the flatter pitch on offer in Mumbai demands Munaf's return. Abu Nechim is likely to stick around as fellow spinner Harbhajan's second fiddle and James Franklin certainly did enough at the weekend to keep Andrew Symonds sidelined.

Having looked to Davy Jacobs and Aiden Blizzard to partner Sachin Tendulkar at the top of the knock, the hosts have settled on Tirumalasetti Suman, who needs a big enough knock to warrant further selection ahead of the South African and Australians signings.

Whereas pinch-hitting promotions aplenty dominated their win on Sunday, Mumbai will restore the status quo to their order by leaving Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu and Kieron Pollard to line the middle overs, with Franklin and Harbhajan left to some last-ditch swinging for the fences if needed.

Meanwhile, all-rounder Franklin, whose two key scalps and brisk 45 not out denied Kolkata a top-two finish and a potentially more direct path to the final, is under no illusions as to the "clean slate" that awaits the visitors regardless of their recent record over the opposition.

"We've managed to pull one out of the hat. We've come from the back after a few losses. The confidence is high and the squad is looking forward to playing with KKR," said the Black Caps star.

"The play-offs, it's a clean slat. We're back to our home ground, where we've played a few games. It's a big game and boys are very excited about it.

"This is what it's all about. There are four teams left. The boys and the team's fans are excited. We've never won the competition. We're hoping it will be us this time."

Kolkata, amid suggestion that they're far too reliant on Jacques Kallis, Gautam Gambhir and Yusuf Pathan to produce the big runs, will demand better of the homegrown Manoj Tiwary and Shreevats Goswami. Dutchman Ryan ten Doeschate and Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan can weigh in with lusty blows or make up the singles as the situation dictates.

Aussie pace ace Brett Lee and slow bowler Iqbal Abdulla have formed a lethal new-ball combination, while Rajat Bhatia's steady seam and a couple of overs from ten Doeschate - if Balaji is again off-colour - will prove a trick across the Wankhede wicket. Yusuf and Shakib make up the remainder of the spin options.

Neither side has ever graduated to an IPL semi-final, let alone a final, with Kolkata captain Gambhir well aware of the equality of pressure come Wednesday's change of the guard.

"We've reached the play-offs and done some very good things to get there. We have to do things the hard way now. We face Mumbai again. They are a beatable side," insisted Gambhir.

"It's a different ball game in the play-offs. One small mistake can seal the tournament. The pressure will be equal on both sides in this game."

For their spoils, Wednesday's victor will bag a second qualifier against Bangalore, while the loser is left to rue another unfulfilled campaign.

Key MenMumbai Indians: Shy of victims in Mumbai's last couple of outings, Lasith Malinga still leads the 2011 event's leading wicket-takers by a long shot, and the Sri Lankan pace ace needs a big one for his adapted side if they're two make it two in two against the Knight Riders.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Having flown under the radar for the majority of the tournament, now is the time for Yusuf Pathan to step up to the plate in a hefty-hitting manner.

Likely TeamsMumbai Indians: Tirumalasetti Suman, Sachin Tendulkar (captain), Ambati Rayudu (wicketkeeper), Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, James Franklin, Rajagopal Sathish, Abu Nechim, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, Lasith Malinga.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Jacques Kallis, Shreevats Goswami (wicketkeeper), Gautam Gambhir (captain), Manoj Tiwary, Yusuf Pathan, Ryan ten Doeschate, Rajat Bhatia, Shakib Al Hasan, Brett Lee, Iqbal Abdulla, Lakshmipathy Balaji.


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