IPL 10, Match 26, GL v KXIP: 5 Tracking Points

Was it a good toss to lose for Kings XI Punjab? Now we know. How big a loss is the absence of Bravo going to mean? Now we know. The Gujarat are reeling far behind in the points table at the moment. They need something really special to make a comeback in the tournament. They have many issues to address despite the fact that they possess a lot of firepower. And it is hard to believe that this was the same side which was on top of the table last year. What has changed so drastically? Just the absence of Bravo is not the answer.  Raina, Baz and Karthik have looked good. The bowlers are a concern, their instability and unreliability are, but they also need some motivation.

While Kings XI Punjab, on the other hand, did well today, and in the season so far, relatively. Maxwell’s captaincy has fetched them better results. Amla is looking good. They themselves have a lot of issues to address but they have managed themselves the fourth spot on the table after the victory today. So, the match today was one between two sides who have not really found their place in the tournament, but clearly, Punjab did a better job in changing that.

Here are 5 Tracking Points from the game:

1. Hashim Amla, the man in form

Hashim Amla will finally know the feeling when he makes a contribution with the bat in the IPL and it ends up in the winning cause. His 96 against Rising Pune Supergiant last year ended in the losing cause, his 104* against Mumbai Indians just three days back ended in the losing cause but today, his 65 against Gujarat Lions, the highest individual score in the match finally ended up being a match-winning one. The knock came in 40 balls and consisted of nine fours and two sixes.

There have been questions about his ability in the shortest format, and the fight for the overseas spot in each IPL side is always on, but Hashim Amla in particularly three games has put those talks to rest. He will be hoping to continue to the same in order to enhance his second experience of the IPL. Today he got the Orange Cap and the Man of the Match, but he was out with a niggle, which the KXIP will be concerned about.

2. Catches win matches

The effect of a good fielding side shows. It is true catches win you matches. Though the Kings XI Punjab were not completely devoid of fielding errors, it is important to note that three catches from the Kings’ side made sure that the Lions could hardly dominate in the second innings. And, mind you, these catches were the reason for the dismissals of big wickets.

The first came in when Stoinis took a brilliant catch just millimeters from the ground to dismiss Finch in the 6^th over. Then came another stunner when Maxwell, one of the best fielders in the deep who made an effort to cling on to the ball to dismiss the almost-set Raina. The third came when Cariappa took a catch off his own ball to send Jadeja back to pavilion. So, all the batsmen who had started off well fell prey to good catches from the Kings’ and they proved to be match-winning ones.

3. Andrew Tye should be a regular in the XI. Period.

The pacer has been fairly reliable with his contribution to a fading Gujarat side. In his first outing in the IPL, he registered a hattrick. So far, he has taken 9 wickets in the 4 matches he has played. Gujarat have been struggling to get their line-up in order. More so because of the plethora of overseas options they have. Their tactic of going in with 4 overseas batsmen did not work at all during the initial matches, and that’s what compelled Tye to get a game.

After success in 2 matches and just one off-day against the Royal Challengers, Tye found himself out of the side as he made way for Faulkner. Uncertainty and instability loomed over the Lions one more time as Faulkner was benched only to make way for Tye again. Andrew Tye is a deck-hitting bowler, in fact, their best gamble considering the rather toothless bowling line up they have now. To let him continue without the constant changes is the only way Gujarat can have at least one reliable bowler. The fact that he provided the team with 22 runs off 12 balls today should count as a bonus too. He can be handy if given the chance.

4. Is Raina making a strong case for the Champions Trophy yet?

With hardly any time for the announcement of the Champions Trophy squad, Suresh Raina is doing well to make a mark with his performances. Though today the scoreboard only reflects 32 runs along his name, he has looked in good touch. He was brilliant in the previous match with his match winning 84 against KKR. He looked confident today too, only to be dismissed with a brilliant Maxwell-special-catch.

The race for the all-rounder’s spot in the Indian squad is on. Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, any new talent from the IPL- Who will make it? So far, Raina has done well despite being in the position of the Team reeling far behind in the points table in the IPL.

5. Dinesh Karthik’s efforts fall short of a win

He has been in good form but is unfortunate to be on the losing side yet again. This was his first fifty of the season though, which was brave yet not enough to help Gujarat register 2 points on the table. From 95/3 to 102/6, it all happened too quickly, so quickly that Dinesh Karthik never got the time to think his strategies. His unbeaten 58 came off 44 balls, but it lacked the power towards the slog overs. But that too was quite difficult considering that he did not have any batsman to cushion the innings on the other end.

He remained the second highest individual run scorer of today’s match and the highest for his side. But as much repetitive as it sounds, even he could not save the Lions falling short against the Kings.