Suresh Raina There have been few consistent players in the Indian Premier League like Suresh Raina. The Chennai Super Kings batsman has featured in each and every match his team has played and has been either the team’s top or the second-highest run-getter in the six seasons so far. However, this season, his team’s openers – Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum – have been so prolific that he’s had just a couple of decent outings in 11 matches. In his most recent outing, against Royal Challengers Bangalore last weekend, he notched up his season-best score of 62 not-out and gave indications that he was ready to strike when opportunity came knocking his way. CSK will field a new opening pair at some point in the coming week when McCullum heads home to be with his wife for the birth of their child. There is no guarantee that the new opening pair will be as successful as Smith and McCullum, and that is when CSK will need Raina to be on top of his game. In the coming week, CSK will take on the Kolkata Knight Riders (at the Eden Gardens), followed by a home fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad and an away game verses Royal Challengers Bangalore. Raina will, no doubt, be the key for CSK then. Sunil Narine The Kolkata Knight Riders have played at eight different venues this season. No matter the stadium, pitch or opposition, one player has always held his own in disparate conditions; Sunil Narine’s four overs have been very difficult to score off almost right through the season. Not only do batsmen fresh at the crease find it hard to pick him, even well-set batters find it difficult to get him away for runs. In the coming week, Narine and his team will play three matches at their home ground – the Eden Gardens – where the surfaces are expected to be low and slow, and known to assist spinners. Also, the KKR mystery bowler has incredible numbers while playing at the Eden Gardens; in 12 previous matches at the venue, he has picked up 20 wickets at a strike-rate of a wicket every 14 balls. More importantly, he has a staggering economy-rate of 4.79. It will be interesting to see how the likes of Suresh Raina, Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and David Warner counter him in the coming week. Mitchell Johnson Picture this. A fast bowler sees grass cover on the pitch, runs in hard, bends his back, bowls quick, gets the wicket to respond, as the ball takes off from the surface, reaching heights the batsmen find difficult to negotiate. Mitchell Johnson must be licking his lips at the prospect of bowling at the PCA Stadium in Mohali, which is one of the few venues in the country where pitches offers pace, movement and carry to quick bowlers. In the coming week, Kings XI Punjab play three matches at the venue – against the Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals and the Delhi Daredevils. Can’t wait to see Johnson do what he does best! Virender Sehwag For the romantic Indian cricket fan, there are few sights that give more joy than watching Virender Sehwag in full flow. The 35-year-old – the only Indian triple-centurion in Test cricket – has entertained mostly with cameos this season, leaving his fans asking for more. In the coming week, Sehwag will play four matches – one in Delhi and three in Mohali. Though he will be playing for the visiting team, one can expect huge support from fans at Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium in Delhi, for Sehwag is very much one of their own. Virat Kohli Royal Challengers Bangalore’s win over the Chennai Super Kings last weekend has meant they are still in the race for a Playoffs spot. RCB are in such a precarious position because two of their batsmen – Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli – have found it difficult to score runs this season. The fact that Kohli, who believes in leading by example, is not among the runs is a huge worry for the Garden City franchise. The 25-year-old has had a dream run over the last couple of years, accumulating more runs in international cricket in the last 23 months than any other cricketer. He thrives under pressure, and given the position RCB are in – they cannot afford to lose one more match in the rest of the league stage – expect him to lead from the front with his bat. In the coming week, RCB will visit Hyderabad on May 20 and Kolkata on May 22, before winding up their league schedule with a home fixture against the Chennai Super Kings on May 24.