The IPL action shifts to India after an action-packed fortnight in the UAE, and first up making their IPL 7 debut on the Indian soil will be the two-time champions Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at Ranchi on Friday.
Chennai are on a roll since being upset by league-leaders Kings XI Punjab in their tournament opener, but the former double champions got their act together to win the next four matches with ease.
In contrast, KKR, who kicked off the season with a bang, lost their momentum towards the later stages of the UAE leg that hosted the first 20 matches from April 16 to 30. With three defeats and two wins, the winners of the 2012 season will hope that their fortunes change in India.
IPL 2014: Action returns to India as Kolkata face Chennai juggernaut
CSK are currently second on the points table having played five matches and losing just one, while KKR are fighting a mid-table battle with four points.
As far as the two captains are concerned, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is always confidence personified and has turned CSK into a champion outfit since the inaugural edition in 2008.
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However, his counterpart Gautam Gambhir had a harrowing time in the UAE, where he was dismissed for three consecutive ducks. But he will be pleased with the 45 runs he scores in his side's last game, though in a losing cause, against the Rajasthan Royals
The southpaw will be hoping that he only brings his last-match form to India and lead from the front on home turf.
Considering the thin batting line-up, Gambhir's presence is of paramount importance to KKR, and he would, as usual, expect veteran allrounder Jacques Kallis to bring all his experience into play not only on the field but also off it by mentoring the squads young turks.
Youngsters Manish Pandey and Suryakumar Yadav showed a lot of promise in the UAE but will have will have to better than in the second leg to boost KKR's chances of reaching the playoffs.
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Sunil Narine will again be the key man with the ball but Kolkata have been relying too much on the mystery spinner for breakthroughs. The West Indian needs more support from pace spearhead Morne Morkel, who can be devastating on his day, and spinners Shakib Al Hasan and Piyush Chawla. Kallis, as usual, will be there to roll his arm over occasionally.
On the other hand, CSK will be high on confidence having posted four straight wins, and with their team often giving the impression of being one of the most balanced in the tournament.
Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith are as formidable as one gets at the top of the order. Both got runs under their belt in the UAE and look in good nick, especially in the games against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata. And in Suresh Raina, Faf du Plessis and Dhoni, CSK have got a middle-order that is just about perfect for this form of the game.
Ravindra Jadeja is there to do the job with both bat and ball, while Ben Hilfenhaus will lead the pace attack with Ishwar Pandey and Mohit Sharma, who has been in good wicket-taking form, giving ample support, while Ravichandran Ashwin will be the key man in the spin department.
CSK are currently second on the points table having played five matches and losing just one, while KKR are fighting a mid-table battle with four points.
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