It has been one of the best starts the Kings XI Punjab has had to any season of the Indian Premier League, with 2 wins in their first 3 games. They have always been under-performers but the team is full of players who are here to prove a point, so this may well be their year. They will play at home, against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the only team to remain unbeaten in IPL 2018 so far.
Teams
In their last game, Punjab beat Chennai Super Kings, and we all know that it isn’t easy beating CSK, one of the most successful teams in the IPL. We’re looking at a strong batting line-up with a few loopholes in the bowling attack, and a few dilemmas when it comes to team selection and foreign player combinations. So far, they have left out each of Chris Gayle, David Miller & Marcus Stoinis, all of whom are usual ‘starting eleven’ players!
Looking at the Sunrisers team, what can I say? Flawless, they have been thus far, with the bat, ball and also in the field. Look at the top 5 runs scorers and top 5 wicket takers in IPL 2018 so far and you will not see a single SRH player in either list. It just goes to show how the team has played brilliantly, with each and everyone contributing.
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When Bhuvneshwar was unfit, Sandeep Sharma took 2 wickets, and while all the focus has been on Rashid Khan as the strike bowler, Stanlake, Shakib and Kaul have proved that they can be equally dangerous. The only weakness I see is their batting. Dhawan and Williamson have scored 222 runs of the teams 417 runs so far. Do they have someone who can step up if these two fail?
Overall
10 games between these two teams and Sunrisers Hyderabad lead the head-to-head count 8-2, leaving Kings XI to have last beaten KXIP in 2014. While I really want KXIP to extend their winning ways in IPL 2018, they really are an unsettled team at the moment, and have failed to sort out a right team combination. Sunrisers Hyderabad to win and extend their streak! I’m expecting SRH to start with spin against Gayle, and bring on spin again, against Yuvraj.
