Kings XI face an uphill task against the Superkings
Saturday night proves to be a big fixture for the Kings XI, facing an in-form Chennai Superkings, that too away from home. Having picked up just 6 points from 8 games, the men from Punjab sit at 8th spot on the table. But of course, this season has seen a very closely contested league table, with teams separated by just one or two points. A few wins at a stretch can take any team to the coveted play off spot. Chennai on the other hand, sit at 3rd place and are looking to climb even further up. A win today would take them to the second spot.
Dhoni wouldn’t be too worried with his teams batting as opener Faf Du Plessis has been one of the stand out performers this season. Bowling has been a problem though for Chennai, but Albie Morkel has been taking charge when the situation has called, in both batting and bowling. On the other hand, Kings XI had a torrid start to the season, but have picked themselves up and are looking to move up the table.
Key Players:
Chennai Superkings
Francois Du Plessis: This lesser known South African is now quite a sensation in India. Having replaced Hayden in the team, few would have predicted the impact that he has had. In third place for the Orange cap now and just 30 runs behind leading run-getter Ajinkya Rahane, he would want to have it back on his head after today’s game. He has played some crucial knocks that have helped his team see the games through and has shown remarkable consistency playing at the top of the order.
Shadab Jakati: He has adjusted to the Chennai wicket very well. He bowls in the blockhole, makes it difficult for the batsmen to create space. he helps slow down the run rate and gets important wickets in the key moments.
Suresh Raina: The ever so reliable Indian has to be a key player in every game that the Super Kings play. The main quality he possesses is that unlike other youngsters, he doesn’t get overexcited playing the shorter format of the game. He comes out onto the pitch with a cool mind and has single handedly seen through matches on many occasions.
Kings XI Punjab
Shaun Marsh: The brightest star in the the Punjab team would have to be Shaun Marsh. Whenever Kings XI have won a game this season, Marsh has been their man who’s stood out. Being brilliant with the bat, he has helped push the run rate up at the dead of the game, which has propelled the targets to respectable ones. A good knock today would help his side get back on track.
Parwinder Awana: Boasting of a four wicket and three wicket haul already to his name, Awana has been brilliant and would look to better his personal record with every game he plays in the IPL. This young man has bowled with pace and has shown that he’s capable of bowling in tough situations.
Azhar Mahmood: Punjab would be glad that he could feature for them, especially after his performances for them in the last few games. Now a British citizen, Mahmood’s experience in this format has come handy for the Kings XI. He knows how to keep a lid on the score with the ball and can certainly hit a few lusty blows with the bat. Known to be one of the most complete all rounders, his form would prove vital to Gilchrist’s men.
Key Factor: The absence of Captain charismatic Adam Gilchrist would continue to be a troubling factor for the team. That could be the reason the team is slightly handicapped and Dhoni would look to take advantage of that.
Prediction: Winning at the MA Chidambaram stadium with a noisy crowd, against a team led by India’s cool headed captain is never an easy task. A win for the Super Kings seems likely, though Preity Zinta’s side would make them work very hard for it.