Eyeing a repeat of their success last season, Kolkata Knight Riders will open their title defence with a clash against a depleted Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.

Kings XI Punjab coach Darren Lehmann on Monday said his batsmen need to bat out the full twenty overs and put more runs on the board to give the bowlers a chance to defend the total.

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir says Eoin Morgan's 29-ball 47 was instrumental in their comfortable 48-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their IPL fixture here on Sunday.

Kolkata Knight Riders will miss the services of James Pattinson this IPL as the Australian pacer was on Thursday ruled out due to a "non-cricket related medical condition in his lower abdominal region" for which he will be undergoing a surgery on Friday.

Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 48 runs in their Indian Premier League match at the Eden Gardens, here on Sunday. Sunrisers lost their way with constant wicket fall. After the stable opening stand by White and Patel, there were no significant partnership to hold the innings against the home team.

Kolkata Knight Riders started their title defence on a confident note as they comfortably defeated Delhi Daredevils by six wickets in the opening encounter of the sixth edition of Indian Premier League on Wednesday.

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders' morale was high after the now-fit skipper Gautam Gambhir arrived and took part in the nets on Sunday, two days before the IPL-VI opener against Delhi Daredevils.

On a high after extracting revenge against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore will look to continue their winning streak when they take on Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL match on Thursday.

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir on Thursday backed out-of-form all-rounder Yusuf Pathan and expressed confidence that the Baroda cricketer would do "something special" very soon in the Indian Premier League.

While a devastating fire in a multi-storey market complex in Sealdah claimed at least 19 lives on Wednesday, political parties pointed fingers at rivals, engaging in the blame game.