IPL 10, Match 26, GL v KXIP Preview: Inconsistent sides aim for winning momentum

Things do not seem to be going in the right way for the Kings XI Punjab at all. They have been trying everything possible to get their perfect permutations on the field. From swapping overseas players to testing their bench strength, they have tried it all. But the fortunes for KXIP have not changed one bit.

They were beaten at their lucky venue in Indore by the Mumbai Indians in their previous encounter. Now, the Kings are up against the Gujarat Lions – a team that has had similar fortunes in the tournament. One thing that separates the Lions from the Kings is their most recent performance.

The Lions beat the strong Kolkata Knight Riders outfit in their previous match and that would have surely bolstered their morale coming into the game. The two teams will lock horns at the SCA Stadium at Rajkot for the all important game.

The game is of serious importance for both the teams considering the position they hold in the points table at the moment. Both sides have been largely inconsistent and are desperate to get back to winning ways in the tournament.

The home venue will not hold a great advantage at the moment for the Gujarat Lions. They have not been in a dominating form at the home venue this season. Hence, KXIP will back themselves to register their third win of the season.

Toss: Gujarat Lions won the toss & elected to bowl first

Suresh Raina: We have four changes. Faulkner is out, Tyes i in. Ishan Kishan is sick. PK and DK are out as well (who presumably are Praveen Kumar and Dhawal Kulkarni). Nathu Singh gets a game. So does Akshdeep Nath. We need a fresh mindset. Both teams need to win. No Dwayne Bravo. He’s been doing proper rehab”

Glenn Maxwell: Quite flat, Good that we’re not fielding in the heat of the day. Three changes. Manan Vohra’s back. KC Cariappa comes in for Swapnil and T Natarajan comes in for Ishant. Really good crew. The whole team has been good about keeping morale up. Missed a few close things in previous matches.

Focus will be on

Glenn Maxwell

KXIP skipper Glenn Maxwell kick started the season in a rollicking form. With two unbeaten scores in the first two matches, he had seen his side notch up wins. However, in the next three fixtures, Maxwell failed to impress with the bat. The leg-spinners accounted for his downfall and the teams exploited the weakness with utmost ease. Maxwell did come back with a cameo in the previous game but that was not enough. He needs to get the big runs and lead the team from the front in the match.

Wriddhiman Saha

KXIP wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha has been a big disappointment in this season thus far. Saha is tipped to be the leading wicket-keeper in the country after MS Dhoni. However, the way things have fared up for him till now, it looks like an overstatement. Saha has been tried at various positions in the batting lineup but all in vain. The team will hope that Saha gets back to his usual form and serve the cause of the team better. Coming into the tournament, Saha had plundered runs at will in the recent grand home Test season of India. He had expressed his desire to translate the same form to the shorter formats but has failed miserably in his attempt until now.

Dinesh Karthik

Much like the KXIP wicket-keeper, the Gujarat Lions wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik will also have the limelight on him in the match. Karthik had made a flying start to the season with a couple of 40s to his name. It seemed as if he had translated his good form of the domestic season to the IPL. However, a couple of low scores followed for him. Another score of 40 odd beckoned but things have not gone beyond that in the season so far. Karthik needs to provide the support to Suresh Raina in the middle order that looks very inconsistent.

Team Combination –

Gujarat Lions

Very rarely do the teams tinker with their winning combinations. It is unlikely that the Lions will be making any change in their playing eleven from the previous game. Aaron Finch and Brendon McCullum proved to be the most successful opening pair for them yet again. Suresh Raina has struck some serious form and is likely to call the shots in the middle order.

Dinesh Karthik is a certain starter as the keeper and Ishan Kishan can be used a floater in the lineup. The bowling continues to be the weak link. Praveen Kumar and Basil Thampi have impressed in brief spells but none of them has been consistent. Dhawal Kulkarni and Ravindra Jadeja are nowhere close to being in the form they are renowned for being in. The only change that might come in the side could be the return of Andrew Tye in place of Dwayne Smith.

Kings XI Punjab

Kings XI Punjab had a near perfect game with the bat in the previous game. Hashim Amla looked in sublime form and had hit a brilliant ton. He will most likely be rejoined by Manan Vohra at the top order. Shaun Marsh at number 3 looks like a very good option for KXIP at the moment. Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis will make up the middle order and will be followed by Wriddhiman Saha, who has been very unimpressive in the season thus far.

Gurkeerat Singh Mann might retain his place in the side in the role of a finisher. Ishant Sharma had a very bad day in the office against the Mumbai Indians and might make way for Varun Aaron in the lineup. Barring a couple of changes in Aaron and Vohra coming in for Ishant and Swapnil Singh, the lineup looks set for another go.

Playing XI

Gujarat Lions: Aaron Finch, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina(c), Dinesh Karthik(w), Dwayne Smith, Ravindra Jadeja, Akshdeep Nath, Andrew Tye, Shubham Agarwal, Basil Thampi, Nathu Singh

KXIP: H Amla, M Vohra, G Maxwell, W Saha, S Marsh, MP Stoinis, A Patel, KC Cariappa, T Natarajan, M Sharma, Sandeep Sharma

StatAttack

4341 – Number of runs scored by Suresh Raina in the IPL history – the most by any batsman.

167 – Number of sixes Suresh Raina has hit in the IPL. He is next to only Chris Gayle in the list.

2 – Number of times the two teams have met in the IPL. Both teams have won one match each. At the home venue of Gujarat Lions, KXIP had won the game last year.