 The 31st match of the Indian Premier League will see the Kings XI Punjab
attempt to try and win their second game at Mohali in Punjab. In the seven games
that the Punjab side has played, they have won only one match, and that has left
them without much to think about except winning all their remaining games. Bangalore,
on the other hand, have four wins from six matches, and would be gunning to make
it five and become the second team after Mumbai to get closer to the semi-finals.
The problem with the Kings XI Punjab in the tournament has been that
they have not been able to close out matches that have gone down to the wire.
It is as if they lose their sting in the last few overs while batting or bowling,
and the only match they won was due to Chennai's lapses.
Click for Live Score Card of Kings XI Punjab Vs Bangalore Royal ChallengersTheir batting has come undone as well. Yuvraj Singh looked to have regained
a bit of his lost touch in that game against the Chennai Super Kings, but again,
he has begun to perform like he has forgotten to hold the bat. The point about
his batting is not only about him having to smash the ball around for cameos,
but to be able to play the really long innings in the tournament. And consistently
at that.
This has put pressure on the other batsmen, and that has meant that the likes
of Kumar Sangakara, Mahela Jayawardene and the rest have found the going difficult.
Luckily for the Punjab side, Shaun Marsh couldn't have made an entry
quicker. His first game against Mumbai showed glimpses of what he had managed
in the first edition of the tournament, and very evidently he will be the man
to look out for.
However, the opposition will also target him, knowing his capabilities, and
one can expect a fair deal of short balls from the likes of Dale Steyn and the
rest to test his mettle. For the Bangalore Royal Challengers side, there
is a double hurrah, with both, Praveen and Vinay Kumar having been selected
for the ICC World T20, but that does not mean that their job is done. Far from
it. They will require to perform in much like the same manner that they have
been doing and with the ball expected to swing around at Mohali in the night,
it could become a perfect setting for them.
Kevin Pietersen can be expected to play in the game.
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