IPL 8: Match Preview - Kolkata Knight Riders take on Royal Challengers Bangalore at Eden Gardens

The fifth match of IPL 8 will see defending champion Kolkata Knight Riders take on Royal Challengers Bangalore, in what may prove to be an enterprising clash at Eden Gardens.

KKR will of course bank on their morale boosting opening game win over Mumbai Indians at the same ground, which had Albie Morkel, skipper Gautam Gambhir and Surya Kumar Yadav playing key roles.

On the other hand, Eden Gardens has not been so lucky for the Virat Kohli led RCB, with a sole win in five attempts to show for.

It may be remembered that KKR had thumped RCB by 140 runs in the opening game of IPL 2008.

KKR have a 7-6 win record against RCB and that may be enough incentive to push the scales in their favour for tonight's contest.

Chris Gayle (RCB) and Morne Morkel (KKR) are the two star players to watch out for in this game.

The big-hitting Gayle has a reputation for ripping opposition bowling to shreds in at least T-20 cricket, and a lot will depend on him if RCB are to surge past the gold brigade.

Morkel on the other hand finished with impressive figures of 2 for 18 against Mumbai, which earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.

Though it will be interesting to see as to whether KKR will unleash their spin-battery on RCB in tonight's match, rest assured Kohli's team will definitely give the defending champs a stiff contest.