Match Preview: Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Daredevils

For a team that blasted its way to the finals in 2014 to become this rudderless is unexpected, especially since not much has changed in the unit in terms of the personnel. The form of its top overseas players – particularly that of David Miller has dipped exponentially. Miller is averaging just 17.14, not good enough for one of the key-players in their middle-order. That middle-order seems barren, even with Glenn Maxwell back amongst the runs with consecutive fifties.

With that said, not all is bleak for the Punjab side. In the previous two encounters, the team has shown that it has the stomach for a fight – beating table-toppers Gujarat, and running Kolkata close at their home. With his fresh perspective to captaincy, Murali Vijay has been able to alter the direction the team was taking and it’s left to be seen whether the impact can change Kings XI’s fortunes.

Up against the Kings will be another north-Indian side in Delhi Daredevils. Just like Punjab, Delhi too had a horrendous run last year but bounced back strongly thanks to their superb auction strategy, a team overhaul and the inclusion of Rahul Dravid in their think tank. However, the loss to a struggling Pune Supergiants on Thursday night shows that all the teams are vulnerable.

In the game against Pune, five of Delhi’s top-seven got out for scores between 20 and 35, unable to convert their starts and hurting their team’s chances. Delhi’s biggest gain this season has been the fact that no matter what, at least one batsman in each game has gone on to score a substantial knock and if the Pune match is to signal an end to that, their chances of winning this tournament will diminish significantly.

Delhi’s bowling has been good with the wily Amit Mishra leading from the front, but the concern is with skipper Zaheer Khan who is averaging in the early-30s and has given away nearly eight and a half runs per over in every spell. Delhi wouldn’t want to arrive at a scenario where the captain will need to sit out for other reasons than injury.

KEY BATTLE

Amit Mishra to Glenn Maxwell: Although Maxwell is most susceptible to leg-spin bowling, he just cannot resist the temptation of going after it. In the 2014 season, when in top-form, opposition captains looked to counter with leg-spinners against Maxwell and they began to get results instantly. At Kolkata too, Maxwell fell to Piyush Chawla. How Punjab’s third highest run-getter deals with Delhi’s top wicket-taker will be great to watch.

WATCH OUT FOR

Can Marcus Stoinis deliver?

Marcus Stoinis: In the three games he’s played so far, Stoinis has looked the most dominant of all the Kings XI Punjab batsmen and that is perhaps why the team management should back the young Australian. Stoinis has a strong T20 reputation and it’s time he was given a consistent run.

EXPECTED XIs

Thanks to the dearth of quality overseas options, Kings XI Punjab has no choice but to continue with Miller. However, the arrival of Hashim Amla is sure to bolster the batting line-up, especially considering Amla’s ability to effortlessly shift gears in the course of the innings. Amla is expected to be the only change in the team sheet.

Murali Vijay, Marcus Stoinis, Hashim Amla, Glenn Maxwell, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), David Miller, Gurkeerat Singh, Axar Patel, Swapnil Singh, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Sharma

With an injury concern to Zaheer, it will be interesting to see whether Delhi will be forced to continue with Duminy as captain. In case Zaheer is still unfit to play, Pawan Suyal could be drafted in to replace Pawan Negi who played the previous game. The experienced, yet expensive Mohammed Shami is likely to get a few more games before being discarded.

Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson (wk), Karun Nair, JP Duminy, Sam Billings, Carlos Brathwaite, Amit Mishra, Jayant Yadav, Imran Tahir, Zaheer Khan/Pawan Suyal, Mohammed Shami

STRAIGHT FROM TWITTER