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[caption id="attachment_41218" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Gautam Gambhir's KKR will face Gujarat Lions in their first match in IPL 2017 on Friday. Image Source: XtraTime[/caption] Internet Desk: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Gautam Gambhir on Thursday admitted that the primary objective of him will be to get their combination right without Caribbean all-rounder Andre Russell. The two time champions of the IPL will begin their title campaign against Gujarat Lions tomorrow at Rajkot. The Knight Riders captain said they will be eyeing a positive start to the season. “We have to start well no matter we bat or bowl first. This is the first game of the season for both teams so there will be a few nerves. We deserve to play with a lot of freedom and we have players who can turn the game on its head,” said Gambhir to reporters on the eve of the match. The KKR captain also stressed the importance for getting the combination right without Russell. "Without Russell we need to get our combination right. He was an important member of the team and let's see how the guys deliver for us," Gambhir said. The two time champions will also miss the service of Umesh Yadav. The Vidharbha fast bowler will be joining the squad before the third match. Umesh’s unavailability in the first couple of matches surprised Gambhir. Yadav is likely to return for KKR's first home game against Kings XI Punjab on April 13 after taking a break due to long Test season with India. KKR play Gujarat Lions on Friday in their first game of Indian Premier League season 10. "Umesh was a bit of a surprise because the form he was in, we thought if he could start it would have been a big advantage, but it gives others an oportunity. We have got a pretty good bowling attack so hopefully the guys can deliver," Gambhir told reporters on the eve of the game. "Look at the moment I can say that he is available. There is just that workload issue and no fitness issue. He is going to be available for the third game which is going to be good for us," explained the southpaw when further pressed about Umesh's status. Asked about the addition of chinaman Kuldeep Yadav in the side with the Nagpur tweaker returning figures of 4/68 on debut for India in the fourth Test against Australia, Gambhir said the spotlight should not be on the 22-year old and he should be left on his own. "We should not talk about Kuldeep a lot. He should be left alone to hone his skills. We are not going to put to much pressure on him as we have other bowlers who can take that pressure. Let him enjoy his game. We want to bowl freely. He is one of our attacking options. He will be a matchwinner for us." On the wicket, Gambhir said it will be a high scoring one. "The wicket is good and high scoring. It won't spin a lot and we expected that. The opposition won't give us a spinning wicket." New Zealand pacer Trent Boult, who was suffering from an injury, is fit and raring to go, Gambhir said. "He is raring to go and we see him as a wicket taking option. We have never had a left arm seamer. Hopefully he will do it for us."