The Hyderabad Deccan Chargers will play the Kings XI Punjab in the 12th match of the Indian Premier League. The game will be played at the Barbati Stadium in Cuttack and will be the first time such a thing will happen in the history of the Indian Premier League. The Chargers won their one of their first two games in the IPL so far and the Punjab side has lost both their matches.

The Kings XI Punjab haven't been able to get their balance right. In the first game, their batting was all over the place but they were nearly rescued by their bowling and in the end, the match against Delhi went down to the wire - all thanks to the bowling. In the second game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, the batsmen slammed a 200-plus total, but the bowling was so atrocious that the opposition got it in 19 overs!

Clearly, there is a lack of leadership currently in the side, and it looks like the captaincy of Kumar Sangakkara is not working. However, it is still early days in the tournament yet and hence, to discount the Punjab side will not be worthwhile. After all, as was shown in the previous game, the Punjab batting is very much a decent option and with the side having bowled reasonably well in the first game, the side could be looking at a resurrection. The only question to be asked is whether they are as good a side as Deccan at this current moment.

Deccan, on the other hand, will be playing this home game and as one knows, their home record is anything but good. They had lost all their home matches in the 2008 edition of the tournament, and started off with a loss at Mumbai this time around as well, which was said to be their home game too. However, the best bit about the Chargers this time around is that Chaminda Vaas, who has been a mere spectator for most part of the first two editions of the tournament has stuck form early and captured five wickets in two games.

For Vaas to strike form is a danger-sign for the opposition, because that usually means that he is getting the ball to swing around and taking wickets aplenty. The Punjab opening pair of Ravinder Bopara and Bisla need to get their feet out of the way to get going against the Chargers.

The batting is strong enough for the Chargers with the likes of Gilly and Symmo, and the side will go into the game as favourites.

Tag :- Chaminda Vaas   Hyderabad Deccan Chargers   Kings XI Punjab   Kumar Sangakkara   Ravinder Bopara