KKR to leave behind captaincy row,take on Chargers

Ganguly had also said that he would not mind on McCullum taking over the captaincy and would focus on playing well to help his team.

The former India captain,retired from international cricket last year,is still a commanding figure in the team and he will have to draw from his vast experience if KKR have to make an impact in the 37-day cricket carnival.

Chris Gayle’s availability for the match will also add to the strength of batting department while McCullum himself is expected to partner the West Indies skipper to give rollicking start to the innings.

KKR Director of Cricket John Buchanan,who raised a hue and cry in the cricket fraternity prior to the event with his multi-captain theory,will also expect some quality service from the new Bangladeshi fast bowling import Mashrafe Mortaza.

Their hopes will also rest on other experienced cricketers in the team including Australia’s Brad Hodge and Sri Lanka’s mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis,together with Indian paceman Ishant Sharma and left-arm spinner Murali Kartik.

If the Knight Riders were under-achievers last year,the Deccan Chargers did even worse,winning only two out of 14 games and finishing at the bottom of the table.

The Hyderabad-based team signed a galaxy of big names last time,including Australia’s Adam Gilchrist,but the team paid for erratic performance by the batting line-up coupled with shortage of experienced bowlers.

Stylish batsman VVS Laxman has been replaced by Gilchrist this time,who will share the batting responsibility with South African hard-hitter Herschelle Gibbs.

While Deccan Chargers will certainly miss the service of controversy-ridden Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds,India’s RP Singh will join hands with Lankan paceman Chaminda Vaas in bowling department.