It's time to introspect for Kolkata Knight Riders. As Shah Rukh Khan's brigade prepares to take on Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens on Saturday in what is most likely to be their penultimate match of IPL 3, they might as well sit down and spend a few minutes reflecting what could have been. Having started off the tournament as one of the best teams on show winning their first two matches, KKR have subsequently won just three of their next 10 games and are currently in a situation where they could even end up with the wooden spoon, for the second straight year. Of course, they can still finish off with a flourish by winning their last two matches, but that will not be redemption for the damage that has already been done. A win over Rajasthan Royals will take them to 12 points and keep them afloat for a semifinal slot mathematically, provided they triumph in their last match also (versus Mumbai Indians at home on Monday). But they would be aware that the permutations are stacked heavily against them. They have the lowest net run-rate among all the teams which could end up with 14 points, so in case of a tie, KKR are most likely to lose out. A KKR win on the morrow will signify the end of the road for Rajasthan Royals in IPL-3. The Jaipur-based team, with 12 points from 13 matches, will be desperately looking for two points to keep their chances of making the semis alive. Shane Warne and one-time foe Sourav Ganguly are, thus, in the same boat. Both teams have had to fight their own demons. The batting has been inconsistent and the bowling not really up to the mark.Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/iplarticleshow/5822930.cms
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