KKR win by 7 wickets!!!

 Kolkata 170-3 (18.3 ovs) vs Mumbai 168-3 | Scorecard

Vinay to bowl the 19th over. He starts with a quick short ball outside the off-stump, beating Yusuf, who throws his bat at that but gets a single from the second ball.

Yadav ends in some style as he slaps the third ball through the covers for a four to take KKR to a convincing seven-wicket victory.

In the end, it turned out to be an easy win for the defending champions as they win with nine balls to spare.

Yadav played a breathtaking innings of 46 not out from 20 balls, hitting five sixes and a four, while Pathan was unbeaten on 14 from 12 balls.

Gambhir had rallied KKR after an early wicket as he stroked 57 from 43 balls, while Pandey smashed 40 from 24 balls.

For Mumbai, none of the bowlers managed to make an impression and all of them went for runs.

 Kolkata 165-3 (18 ovs) vs Mumbai 168-3 | Scorecard

KKR's last throw of the dice as Malinga comes on to bowl his fourth and final over.

The second ball is a full toss as Pathan flicks it behind square on the leg side for a four.

Yadav moves across and lofts the fifth ball over midwicket for a six to continue KKR's charge.

14 runs from the Malinga leave KKR on the brink of victory with four needed from two overs for victory.

 Kolkata 151-3 (17 ovs) vs Mumbai 168-3 | Scorecard

Malinga comes back with Mumbai needing a wicket or two to inch their way back into the contest.

Yusuf Pathan looking to play the Sri Lankan pacer with utmost caution as he plays three dot balls before taking a single.

KKR are unlucky not to be awarded a wide as Malinga's bouncer is way down the leg side before Yadav takes a single from the last ball to retain strike.

Yadav is dealing in sixes today. A full wide delivery by Bumrah is hit over the covers for a six and two balls later he lofts it on the other side, for another six over wide long-on to race to 32 from 15 balls.

Pathan ends the over in same style as he pulls a short ball over midwicket for the third six of the over.

Bumrah goes for 20 runs in the 17th over, leaving KKR with 18 to get from the last three overs.

 Kolkata 129-3 (15 ovs) vs Mumbai 168-3 | Scorecard

Bumrah is back into the attack. Gambhir decides to target him straightaway as he lofts the first ball over mid-on for a four. But the bowler gets revenge from the very next delivery as he pulls a short ball straight to Rayudu at deep square leg.

The KKR captain walks back after a good innings of 57 from 43 balls but his team look in complete control.

Surya gets his second six as he flicks the next ball over the fine leg region and picks up a single from the next ball.

12 runs from the over take KKR to 129 for three in 15 overs, with 40 needed from five overs for victory.

 Kolkata 117-2 (14 ovs) vs Mumbai 168-3 | Scorecard

Vinay Kumar comes back for his second spell and facing him is new batsman Surya Kumar Yadav.

The Mumbai right-hander doesn't take much time to warm up. The second ball he faces he flicks it over square leg for a six to get off the mark in some style and take KKR past the 100-run mark, in the 13th over.

Gambhir gets a lifeline as Harbhajan is unable to hold on to a tough chance on his follow through and ends up deflecting it for a four. That also helps the KKR captain raise his fifty, from 39 balls to put his team in control of the run chase.

Harbhajan goes for 10 runs in his final over to finish with poor figures one for 38 in four overs.

KKR in complete control as they reach 117 for two in 14 overs, needing 52 runs from six overs for victory.

Gambhir has played a wonderful innings so far, hitting 53 from 41 balls, while Yadav has 12 from seven balls.

 Kolkata 98-2 (12 ovs) vs Mumbai 168-3 | Scorecard

Malinga comes back as Mumbai are desperate for a wicket with Kolkata hitting boundaries at will in the last few overs.

The second ball is a nice full toss on the pads which Pandey flicks off his pads over fine leg for a six.

Malinga manages to get the edge of Gambhir's bat but it falls short of the keeper before he watchfully keeps out a quick yorker.

Malinga dishes out another full toss which Pandey despite slipping manages to hit to deep midwicket for one to make it nine runs from the over.

Harbhajan manages to make the crucial breakthrough with the wicket of Pandey. The right-hander, who made 40 from 24 balls, went for the big hit on the leg side but mishit to Pollard at long-on, who completed an easy catch.

 Kolkata 85-1 (10 ovs) vs Mumbai 168-3 | Scorecard

Spin from both ends as veteran Harbhajan Singh is called into the attack. Gambhir welcomes him into the attack with a boundary playing a cracking drive through the covers.

He then steers the next ball for a couple followed by two more courtesy of an inside edge.

Harbhajan drops short as Gambhir cuts it past point for the second four of the over followed by a single to make it 13 runs from the over.

Pandey continues his positive start as he slogs Ojha over the leg side for a six as KKR get 12 runs from the over.

Pandey (28) gets a lifeline as Anderson misjudges it at long-off and ends up putting down a tough chance off Harbhajan's first delivery.

Gambhir gives Harbhajan the charge and lofts it over the off-side for a four and cuts the next ball for the same result.

After 10 overs, KKR have raced to 85 for one with Gambhir on 43 from 32 balls and Pandey on 30 from 17 balls. They need another 84 runs from the remaining 10 overs for victory with nine wickets still in hand.

 Kolkata 49-1 (7 ovs) vs Mumbai 168-3 | Scorecard

Vinay is taken off after a tidy first spell of seven runs in two overs and he makes way for the young Jasprit Bumrah.

The first ball is short and wide as Pandey smashes it through the off-side for a four but misses the fine flick two balls later for just a single on the leg side. Gambhir gets a single from the last ball to make it six runs from the over.

Spin makes an entry in the form of Pragyan Ojha, another bowler who has had his action modified and got it cleared after tests in Chennai earlier this year.

Gambhir pulls the third ball over midwicket for a six followed by three more singles as 11 runs come from Ojha's first over to take KKR to 49 for one in seven overs.

 Kolkata 32-1 (5 ovs) vs Mumbai 168-3 | Scorecard

Vinay drops short as Gambhir pulls it behind square on the leg side for his first boundary but only two more runs from the rest of the over as Mumbai continue to keep it tight with the new ball.

Pandey looks to have come out with a positive frame of mind. He carts the second ball of Anderson's second over straight back over the pacer's head for a six. The next ball is full and moves away slightly as Pandey gets a leading edge trying to turn it on the leg side and it carries over point for a four.

Gambhir is beaten off the last ball of the over as it narrowly misses the edge.

After five overs, KKR are 32 for one, with another 137 needed from 15 overs for victory at an asking rate of 9.13.

Yuvraj Singh seems to have had a good laugh as Gambhir's bat broke into two.

"Now that actually looks like @GautamGambhir size bat ! #IPL2015," he tweeted.

 Kolkata 13-1 (3 ovs) vs Mumbai 168-3 | Scorecard

R Vinay Kumar to bowl the second over for Mumbai. He has been in splendid form in domestic cricket right through the season. A stunning start to his over as he manages to break Gambhir's bat into two pieces as the left-hander played a drive on the off-side.

Gambhir gets off the mark with the new bat courtesy of a single to thirdman and Uthappa gets one from the fifth ball.

Gambhir gets a lifeline from the last ball as the edge is dropped by wicketkeeper Aditya Tare, who dives to his left but fails to hold on.

Just one over for Malinga with the new ball before he makes way for Anderson. The first ball is full and on the pads as Uthappa flicks it square on the leg side for a six. Two balls later, he gets a lifeline as Anderson fails to take a sharp chance on his follow through, to make it two dropped catches in the space of four deliveries.

But Anderson gets his man two balls later as Uthappa plays away from his body but gets an edge to be caught by Harbhajan Singh at first slip.

Uthappa walks back for nine as KKR lose an early wicket.

New batsman Manish Pandey is literally cut in half by the incoming delivery from Anderson, who comes in a long way.

KKR are struggling on 13 for one in three overs.

 Kolkata 3-0 (1 ov) vs Mumbai 168-3 | Scorecard

Lasith Malinga to open the bowling for Mumbai with the dangerous duo of Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir set to open the batting for hosts KKR.

Uthappa gets off the mark with a single from the first ball before Malinga bowls a wide down the leg side to Gambhir followed by a leg bye.

Uthappa sees off the rest of the over as just three runs come from the first over.

 Mumbai 168-3 (20 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

Rohit in complete control at the moment as crashes Shakib through the covers where Russell runs around from sweeper cover and stops it but touches the ropes in the process to give away a four.

Anderson clubs the fifth ball back over the bowler's head for another four to get 11 runs from the over.

Russell comes back for his second spell. Anderson lofts the first ball straight down the ground over long-on for a six and takes a single from the next ball.

No stopping Rohit as he despatches a full delivery over long-off for the second six of the over to move into the 90s.

The runs continue to flow for Mumbai as Russell is hit for 15 runs in the 19th over, taking the score to 148 for three with one over left.

Shakib to bowl the final over. Anderson hammers the first ball over midwicket for a six and gets a lifeline from the next ball as he is dropped at deep midwicket by Morkel.

Rohit opens the face of the bat and lofts it over point for a four to move to 98 but gets only a single from the fifth ball to move to 98.

Anderson ends the innings in style with a six over wide over long-on to steer Mumbai to 168 for three in their 20 overs.

Rohit is unlucky to miss out on a deserved century as he is left stranded on a splendid innings of 98 from 65 balls, having hit 12 fours and four sixes.

The Mumbai captain put on an unbroken stand of 131 runs from 88 balls for the fourth wicket with Anderson, who played a good knock of 55 from 41 balls.

 Mumbai 122-3 (17 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

Shakib comes back into the attack as KKR are desperate for a wicket to halt Mumbai's charge in the last few overs.

Anderson (23) slogs the first ball to deep midwicket hitting it straight into the hands of Russell, who puts down a simple catch. Rohit slaps the fourth ball through the covers for a four to get eight runs from the 16th over.

Narine to finish off early unlike in previous seasons when he did most of the bowling in the final few overs. Rohit (70) gets a lifeline as he gives Narine the charge but gets an edge which is dropped by wicketkeeper Uthappa. He sweeps the next ball powerfully square on the leg side for a four and heaves the next one on the leg side for a six.

13 runs from Narine's final over, who finishes with 28 runs in four overs.

Rohit has hammered 81 from 58 balls, while Anderson is on 27 from 30 balls as Mumbai reach 122 for three in 17 overs.

 Mumbai 101-3 (15 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

Narine comes back after two tidy overs from Russell. The mystery spinner does a good job, giving away just four singles in his third over as KKR continue to keep Mumbai's batsmen tied with some disciplined bowling.

Gambhir is wary of this developing partnership between Rohit and Anderson as he brings back Yadav.

Anderson picks up two runs from the first ball through the off-side and then picks a single.

Rohit then pulls a short over midwicket for a four to bring up his half-century in some style, from 46 balls. The next ball is sent crashing through the covers for another boundary before he heaves the fifth ball over midwicket for a huge six.

The last ball is steered through the vacant thirdman region for another four as Yadav concedes as massive 21 runs in that over.

Mumbai have recovered to 101 for three in 15 overs with Rohit racing to 64 from 49  balls and Anderson on 23 from 27 balls.

 Mumbai 76-3 (13 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla comes into the attack. Rohit turns the first ball on the leg side for two runs and then takes a single. Anderson gets a single from the fourth ball and Rohit does the same from the next delivery. The last ball is short and Anderson hammers it through the off-side for a four.

Meanwhile, Russell continues his good start with the ball as he sends down another tight over, conceding just three singles in his second.

Chawla beats Rohit with one that turns a bit more than expected, going past the face of the bat. Three singles from the next four balls before Anderson again despatches the last ball for a four as Mumbai reach 76 for three in 13 overs.

 Mumbai 57-3 (10 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

Narine continues as Anderson drives the first ball down to long-off for one. Sharma defends the next three deliveries before he hits the fifth ball through point for a four and takes a single from the last ball.

Another change for KKR as all-rounder Andre Russell comes into the attack. He makes a good start, giving away three singles as Mumbai reach 57 for three in 10 overs with Rohit on 36 from 32 balls and Anderson on seven from 14 balls.

 Mumbai 48-3 (8 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

Sunil Narine comes into the attack with a slightly remodelled action and having cleared all necessary tests to prove his bowling is within legal limits.

He starts with a full toss which Rohit punches through the covers for a boundary from the first ball of the over. Two balls later, non-striker Anderson has a close shave as he is sent back trying to steal a quick run but Narine fails to gather the ball cleanly. All the confusion was created courtesy of a brilliant diving stop from Shakib at point.

Gambhir decides to bowl out Morkel as he continues to bowl his fourth over on the trot.

Anderson has struggled so far to find his rhythm as he plays and misses outside the off-stump with Morkel slanting one across him. But he clubs the next ball through the covers for a four to get off the mark with a four, from the ninth ball he faces.

Six runs from the over as Morkel ends with impressive figures of two for 18 in four overs including a maiden with Mumbai reaching 48 for three in eight overs.

 Mumbai 37-3 (6 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

Ambati Rayudu doesn't last long either. He is caught at first slip by Yusuf Pathan for a two-ball duck to leave Mumbai in trouble on 37 for three, in the sixth over.

That wicket has made Gambhir put three slips in place to new batsman Corey Anderson with Morkel generating a lot of bounce from this Eden wicket.

The Kiwi left-hander goes after a wide outswinger but is beaten as wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa goes in appeal but the bowler Morkel is not interested.

A wicket maiden from Morkel, whose excellent figures read two for 12 in three overs, as Mumbai slip to 37 for three in six overs.

 Mumbai 37-2 (5 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

Yadav gifts a half volley on the pads to Rohit who easily flicks it square on the leg side for his first boundary. Three balls later, he bowls another full delivery wide outside the off-stump which Rohit drives in some style through the covers for the same result.

The last ball is again full and wide as Rohit throws his bat at it and despite the thick outside edge manages to beat point for the third four of the over, which goes for 12 runs.

New batsman Aditya Tare gets off the mark with a four, driving on the up through the covers and takes a single from the next ball to fine leg. Rohit is then beaten by one that pitches and moves away as he is late into the defensive push.

Rohit taps the fifth ball on the leg side and sprints across for a quick single and Tare whips the last ball to fine leg for another single.

KKR introduce spin early as left-armer Shakib Al Hasan comes into the attack, to bowl the fifth over. Rohit wastes no time in going after the spinner as he comes down the track and lofts the third ball straight down the ground for the first six of IPL 8.

Mumbai suffer another setback in that over as Tare (7) holes out to the long-off fielder off the last ball of the fifth over.

Mumbai are reduced to 37 for two in five overs with Rohit unbeaten on 23 from 18 balls.

 Mumbai 9-1 (2 ovs) vs KKR | Scorecard

South Morne Morkel to bowl the second over. He starts with one down the leg side which Finch flicks fine for the first boundary of IPL 8. Two balls later he gets a leading edge as he tries to heave it on the leg side and is caught by Yadav on the fine leg fence for five.

Rohit survives a confident shout for LBW off the next delivery before he takes a single from the last ball to retain strike.

 Mumbai 4-0 (1 ov) vs KKR | Scorecard

Umesh Yadav to open the bowling for KKR. He will be feeling confident after a fine showing in the ICC World Cup last month.

Mumbai Indians have a new opening pair in Rohit Sharma and Australian Aaron Finch. The former gets Mumbai off the mark with a single on the leg side and Finch does the same for his first run of the match.

Sharma gets the fourth ball to thirdman for one before Finch picks a leg bye as four runs come from the first over.

Check out the playing elevens for today's match:

Kolkata Knight Riders: Gautam Gambhir (captain), Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey, Surya Kumar Yadav, Yusuf Pathan, Shakib Al Hasan, Andre Russell, Piyush Chawla, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Morne Morkel.

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (captain), Aaron Finch, Ambati Rayudu, Aditya Tare, Corey Anderson, Kieron Pollard, Harbhajan Singh, Lasith Malinga, R Vinay Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Pragyan Ojha.

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir has won the toss and elected to bowl against Mumbai Indians in the opening match of IPL 8.

Gambhir reveals the four overseas players for the champions -- Shakib Al Hasan, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Morne Morkel.

For Mumbai, the overseas players are Aaron Finch, Corey Anderson, Kieron Pollard and Lasith Malinga.

Welcome to the coverage of the opening match of the eighth edition of the Indian Premier League between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians at the Eden Gardens, in Kolkata, on Wednesday.

KKR would be relieved at having their strike bowler -- mystery spinner Sunil Narine cleared for the IPL after getting a clean chit from the BCCI on Sunday.

They would be looking to successfully defend their title and in the process capture their third IPL crown.

On the other hand, Mumbai, who won the trophy in 2013, would be looking to make a strong start to the tournament.

Mumbai Indians boast of some hard-hitting players in Corey Anderson and Kieron Pollard, while captain Rohit Sharma and new signing Aaron Finch are capable of destroying any bowling attack on their day. While Lasith Malinga and R Vinay Kumar will lead the pace line-up for Mumbai, the home side will have Morne Morkel and Umesh Yadav who will look to carry forward their good showing in the World Cup.

Kolkata's batting is equally strong and tested with last year's top run-getter Robin Uthappa (660 runs) leading the brigade.

Uthappa continued his good run in domestic cricket for Karnataka as he finished top in the Ranji Trophy run scoring charts with 912 runs from 11 matches and the explosive opener along with skipper Gautam Gambhir would look to give the perfect start before the likes of Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav take charge.

Yusuf Pathan may not have been in the best of form in the recent past but given his credentials to win a match single-handedly in subcontinent conditions, the senior Baroda pro is worth a bet.