IPL 2020: Kolkata Knight Riders coach backs Pat Cummins to excel in Abu Dhabi conditions

World's No 1 Test bowler available for selection alongside Eoin Morgan and Tom Banton for match against Mumbai Indians

Australia's Pat Cummins is expected to complete his quarantine on Tuesday and be available for selection for Kolkata's game on Wednesday. Reuters

Eoin Morgan, Pat Cummins and Tom Banton will be available selection when Kolkata Knight Riders open their 2020 IPL campaign against Mumbai Indians on Wednesday.

The trio were late arrivals after flying into the capital immediately after the last one-day international between England and Australia in Manchester last week.

They were expected to complete the quarantine process on Tuesday evening.

Morgan and Cummins are both set to be in the starting XI to face Mumbai at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, in a meeting between the two Abu Dhabi-based sides.

Cummins, the No 1 bowler in the world in the Test rankings, was the most expensive signing at auction ahead of this season.

Even though the tournament was subsequently relocated to the UAE, Brendon McCullum, the coach, is still confident the fast bowler will be a threat.

“I think the conditions are similar to Eden Gardens if we look at the first few games of this tournament,” McCullum said.

“Because the pitches in the UAE have not been utilised in the past few months, they seem to have quite a fresh tinge to them.

“We have seen so far the fast bowlers have excelled, especially the ones who have operated on that Test-match length.

“If we look at the No 1 bowler in the world, it is Pat Cummings.

"Through a bit of good fortune, we have landed on these conditions where he should be able to excel.

“Not only is he a wonderful cricketer, who’ll do a great job for us on the field, he is also a strong leader and good human being who was been part of the KKR franchise before.”

Kolkata’s head-to-head record against Mumbai, the defending champions, is poor, but Dinesh Karthik, Kolkata’s captain, is optimistic.

"It is good that we're playing them early in the tournament," Karthik said of a side who are reputed to be slow starters, and lost the opening game against Chennai Super Kings on Saturday.

“They’re a solid side. Their record speaks for itself, and we are very aware of that.

“Every year is a fresh year, and I’m sure it will be a great game.”