For the home side, it has been a season of mixed returns so far. After early defeats to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians, KKR roared back to form in their last outing -- a commanding win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Here are how the bowlers fared in Guwahati...
Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy with a back injury.
KKR's newly-appointed skipper Ajinkya Rahane seemed visibly irritated by the repeated discussions around Iyer's price tag and said he "deserved that price".
Varun Chakravarthy credited the intense domestic grind and the role clarity provided by new head coach Gautam Gambhir as vital in helping regain his lost form.
Riding high on their new-found confidence, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders will be hoping to finally get it right at home and keep their play-off hopes alive when they take on a struggling Rajasthan Royals in their IPL match in Kolkata on Sunday.
Tamilians and Keralites believe he is one of them, and people from Karnataka also consider him their hero.
A clinical Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) thrashed a completely disoriented Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by eight wickets in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match in Chennai on Friday.
The 31-year-old didn't find a place in the squad against England because of Reddy's recent exploits.
With a power-packed batting line-up, match-winning spinners and a solid pace attack, champions KKR are once again the team to beat.
IMAGES from the IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday
England secured a 26-run victory over India in the third T20I in Rajkot on Tuesday to stay alive in the five-match series.
'Five spinners, Siraj ignored for Rana, and Jaiswal dropped. Brain-faded captain and coach combo!'
India pacer Mohammad Shami, playing his third game of the tournament, went for runs as he took 3/61 in 10 overs.
Yuzvendra Chahal led a stunning comeback for Punjab Kings with 4/28 as they defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 16 runs in their low-scoring Indian Premier League thriller on Tuesday.
Put into bat, Abhishek's onslaught propelled India to their highest powerplay score of 95 studded with 16 boundaries.
'Indian cricket is on an upward curve, definitely, other teams have to catch up with us and (the Champions Trophy) final is going to be crucial.'
'The stakes are too high and it would have been a complete embarrassment had Bumrah broken down in a match.'
'Certain formats require a certain skill set and whenever we look at these kinds of players, if the talent is there, then you don't want to shy away from blooding them.'
The tournament was decorated with several impactful players and 12 of them have made it to the ICC Champions Trophy Team of the Tournament.
Successful in keeping opponents and vitriol at bay so far, India will have to rise above traditional bugbear New Zealand and a rigmarole of emotions surrounding stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to reclaim the Champions Trophy after 12 years in Dubai on Sunday.
Varun Chakaravarthy's ability to consistently figure among the wickets for Kolkata Knight Riders drew praise from former Australian tearaway bowler Brett Lee, who said he made life difficult for Mumbai Indians batters in the rain-shortened, low-scoring IPL match at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Saturday night.
Pace sensation Mayank Yadav is expected to unleash his raw speed while the absence of India's T20 regulars will provide another opportunity to the fringe players in the three-match series against Bangladesh, beginning in Gwalior Sunday.
KKR spinner Varun Chakaravarthy said bowlers must learn to live with the IPL's Impact Player rule
Magnificent fifties by openers Virat Kohli and Phil Salt guided RCB to a comfortable seven-wicket win over defending champions KKR.
Their pre-tournament decision to fill the squad with five spinners drew a lot of flak from all corners, but it is now proving to be a masterstroke on the slow pitches in Dubai.
A seemingly invincible India will be eager to sharpen their game against spin and give a run to second-line players ahead of the semi-final when they take on New Zealand in their last group match of the Champions Trophy in Dubai on Sunday.
Stead said about Kane that he is a batter who rises for big occasions, calling him a "special player".
Although India are playing a strong brand of 50-overs' cricket of late, they have some selection riddles to solve before they face Bangladesh in their opening match of the Champions Trophy.
We could have assessed the pitch better: Varun Chakaravarthy
The Bangladesh bowlers have the ability to spice up things but against India's formidable lineup, they would need plenty of runs on the board.
The barren run of skipper Rohit Sharma and the selection conundrum that Virat Kohli's possible return poses are the towering obstacles in India's quest for a series win against England in the second ODI in Cuttack on Sunday.
Since Suryakumar took over as captain last year, India have hardly put a wrong but his own form has dipped.
India is facing form concerns and selection dilemmas as they enter the final phase of their Champions Trophy preparations.
'It feels great when you contribute as an all-rounder, which I have been doing for a long time.'
India will look to extend lead against England
IMAGES from the Champions Trophy final played between India and New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday.
Bharat Arun singled out pacers Harshit Rana and Mitchell Starc for their crucial contributions in KKR's title triumph.
India registered a thumping 86-run victory in the second T20I against Bangladesh to seal the three-match series 2-0.
Virat Kohli's form in focus as India eye ODI clean-sweep over England
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