Mumbai take on Kolkata in the clash of titans

A video of the preview of the IPL 2012 match between Mumbai and Kolkata at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.

KKR, who suffered back-to-back defeats in their last two games – against MI and holders Chennai Super Kings – at the home venue of Eden Gardens, are a point adrift of their rivals with 17 in their kitty from 14 games.

But a win against Mumbai the Wankhede Stadium would virtually seal KKR's place in the four-team play-offs ahead of their final round robin game against the struggling Pune Warriors on May 19.

KKR, however, need to dust off the stunning last-ball defeat against Chennai last night in their final home game of the season if they desire to match the highly confident Mumbai outfit, whose main adversary playing in their backyard has been the uncertain nature of the wickets.

On wickets that have helped batsmen, MI have been on roll, but on wickets that have either seamed around or helped spin bowlers overtly, their mighty batting line-up has struggled a bit ? indicated by their 3-4 win-loss record at home this season.

Mumbai have turned it around after being comprehensively outplayed by the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Wankhede Stadium on May 9. They defeated KKR and RCB away from home in back-to-back games to stand on the threshold of qualifying for the next stage of the competition.

If it was Rohit Sharma who flattened KKR with a brilliant unbeaten 109, his maiden IPL ton, it was another talented youngster, Ambati Rayudu, who stole the win for MI against RCB last night in Bangalore with a brilliant 81 not out off 54 balls.