Strange homecoming for Iyer as Punjab take on KKR

Having led KKR to the title last year before he was let go, Shreyas Iyer will have a point to prove

- Amrit Mathur

KOLKATA: The man who led them to glory just a season ago could now stand in the way of Kolkata Knight Riders' playoff qualification when the side hosts the Shreyas Iyer-led revamped Punjab Kings in a high-stakes IPL clash here at the Eden Gardens on Saturday.

Twelve months ago, Iyer had led KKR to their first IPL title in a decade. On Saturday, he returns in opposition colours, at the helm of a rejuvenated Punjab side chasing a playoff spot.

Let go by KKR in one of the most surprising off-season moves, Iyer has found both comfort and purpose in Punjab Kings.

Reuniting with his old Delhi Capitals mentor Ricky Ponting, the duo has steadied PBKS into the top five of the table with five wins from eight games.

The partnership has given Iyer the space to lead confidently and he has tallied 263 runs with three half-centuries so far. However, he comes into the weekend game, carrying three single digit scores.

Saturday offers him the perfect chance to make a statement, much like KL Rahul did the other against his former franchise Lucknow Super Giants with a composed 57 not out.

KKR, on the other hand, are in desperate need of momentum. With five defeats in eight matches, another stumble could tighten their already narrow path to the playoffs.

Their top-order remains unsettled, the middle-order erratic, and the spin attack ineffective on a surface they once called their fortress.

KKR's middle-order trio of Russell, Rinku and Ramandeep has failed to deliver the finishing punch this season, prompting calls for a shake-up.

The team may be forced to bring in Caribbean all-rounder Rovman Powell, whose power-hitting and handy pace can add much-needed spark and balance.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi, one of the few bright spots in KKR's batting, might once again look to negotiate the tricky phase when the likes of Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal operate.