IPL 6: Match 6 - PWI vs Kings XI Punjab - Pune Warriors India Preview

I sometimes don’t understand the logic some teams use in the IPL. There have been cases when your most powerful striker gets too few overs to bat, putting a lot of pressure on him to hit a maximum off every delivery, or even benching your most consistent player across the previous seasons for the first game and then fail to chase down a meagre total.

Pune Warriors India is a side high on flair but low on consistency and results. They ended up with the wooden spoon last year, and look to be heading on the same path this time around too. Last season, neither the bowling nor the batting fired in tandem, barring a few instances. Against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their opening game the other night, the bowling breathed fire to restrict them for 126, but the batting came a cropper. There wasn’t one steady head to guide the run chase.

On paper though, PWI looks a balanced side, with the right amount of youth and experience. The team would be boosted by the presence of the reliable Abhishek Nayar – a handy bat and a clever seam bowler. The top order, however, needs Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey to fire – both are capable enough to play the shots in the opening overs. While West Indian Marlon Samuels has proven his worth, it definitely wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring in Australia’s Steve Smith, who was PWI’s most consistent player last season. The youngster has proven himself in all 3 formats of the game and would be looking to get some runs. His fielding is a key asset to the team, and he is more than a handy leg-spinner – especially if the idea is to stem the run flow.

The middle order’s hopes, however, will rest on the experienced shoulders of former skipper Yuvraj Singh. If he stays in for a couple of overs (and overcomes his reluctance to start against spin), PWI could well hope for a big total on the board or a successful chase. As always, Yuvraj is of immense importance to a side that is struggling, and he has the knack of breaking partnerships with his ‘pie-chuckers’ too.

Captain Angelo Matthews is in good nick as well, and can be called upon to play the sheet anchor or the aggressor role, depending on the situation. On the bowling front, left-arm pacer Shrikant Wagh could get a look-in, with Ashok Dinda and Bhuvneshwar Kumar as reliable backup. Leg-spinner Rahul Sharma will once again be called upon to display his wiles and Punjab’s batters will have to negotiate him safely. Wily Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis could also be more than a handful – thus adding to PWI’s problem of plenty.

Conditions

The game is set to be played at the Subroto Roy Sahara Stadium in Pune. Over the last 2 seasons, the pitch has played true to both batsmen and bowlers alike. Conditions are expected to be humid and the team that can adapt quickly should ideally run out as winners.

Players to watch out for

Yuvraj Singh – The Indian all-rounder was deceived in flight in the last game. He will look to make amends by scoring big, and what better stage to do it in than against his old team. His experience in this format will play a big role, and in tandem with skipper Angelo Matthews, he will have to hold the middle order together. A notable fielder and a useful slow bowler as well.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar – The new kid on the block has only just started to find his feet in international cricket. He will be one of the mainstays of the pace attack, and his subtle variations in pace can trouble the Punjab batsmen.

Abhishek Nayar – Nayar failed to make much of an impact in the last game. But a cool head on those broad shoulders gives PWI a big advantage. He can graft and accelerate when needed. He’s reliable in the field and a good seam option as well.

X Factor: Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey and Parvez Rasool.

Prediction:

PWI’s chief problem is inconsistency and a tendency to get bogged down under pressure. If they bat first, they should look to play out the full 20 overs and target the bowling accordingly. The bowling needs to be accurate and penetrative enough to trouble Punjab’s batsmen. They must get Gilchrist, David Hussey and Azhar Mahmood out early and raise their fielding to higher levels if they want to win this. All in all, a cracker of a contest is on the cards – and if they hold their nerves, PWI may well be victorious in this game.