Lasith Malinga
The Sri Lankan fast bowler is by far the leading wicket taker of the current season and has been in devastating form this year.
Malinga has troubled almost all the batsmen with his slinging Yorkers and swing with both new and the old ball.
He has retired from Test cricket and wants to focus on limited cricket only. This is probably the reason why he has become more effective in T20 cricket and looks fit and energetic.
Harbhajan Singh and Munaf Patel
Both these Test cricketers have done well and supported Malinga quite efficiently this season.
Their international experience has turned out to be very valuable for the Indians this season and this is the reason why Mumbai’s bowling lineup is considered as one of the best in the ongoing tournament.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Jacques Kallis
The South African all-rounder is not always reckoned as a dangerous player in the shortest format of the game.
However, he has answered his critics in style this season and is amongst the top run scorers of the tournament.
Kallis is the only Knight Riders’ batsman who has scored more than 400 runs this year. Apart from his solid batting, he is more than handy with the ball and can chip in with some crucial scalps.
Yusuf Pathan
Pathan played for Rajasthan Royals in the initial three editions of IPL and played a huge role in Royals’ success.
He has looked threatening at times this year while playing for the Knight Riders but has not played up to his potential.
Pathan is a fierce striker of the cricket ball and would love to make an impression at the crunch stage of the tournament. If he gets going on Wednesday, it is going to be very difficult for Mumbai’s bowlers to control the onslaught.
Gautam Gambhir
Kolkata’s captain is a big match player as he has proved many times in past. He played a crucial innings in the final of the inaugural ICC World T20 in 2007 against Pakistan in Johannesburg and produced another gem in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 against Sri Lanka.
Gambhir loves the big stage and one should not be surprised if he smashes Mumbai’s bowlers all around the park.
Iqbal Abdullah
Although, there are some bowlers of international experience in Kolkata’s lineup like Brett Lee and Laxmipathy Balaji but the young left arm spinner Iqbal Abdullah has been the best bowler for the Knight Riders without a shadow of doubt.
Abdullah has given crucial breakthroughs to his team whenever they required them the most and on top of that the left-arm spinner has been very economical.
Brett Lee
The Australian fast bowler has not been at his destructive best this season but just like his captain, Lee is also a big match player and turn the tables at any point of time.
In order to match the skills of Malinga and company, Kolkata wants Lee to raise his game on Wednesday and give early breakthroughs to his team. Otherwise Mumbai’s batsmen have the ability to run away with the show.
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