Kings XI Punjab has been the most unpredictable side in the DLF IPL 2009 so far: they made a poor start, then for a while they seem unstoppable, then they are again on a losing wicket, now they again seem to be on an uptrend having rattled the Delhi Daredevils in their last match. Now with the return of Brett Lee and Sreesanth into the team to add Irfan Pathan’s firepower, this bowling attack of theirs looks very formidable indeed. In their Delhi encounter, Lee scalped three and Irfan and Sreesanth shared the honours with two each.
What is reassuring to watch is the way that Yuvraj has been contributing useful innings in most matches now and also the fact that Kumara Sangakkara is now seeing a return to form after a bit of a dip in his batting fortunes.
The team’s international cricket players seem to be hitting mid season form just about now though the team will miss the injured Mahela Jayawardene.
As for the Deccan Chargers, the important man is still Adam Gilchrist who has been pivotal for the side all throughout the
DLF IPL 2009. The team is also recently fortified by the return of Andrew Symonds. It fact today will be an exciting contest on the cards when two of Australia’s best take on one another as Brett Lee and Andrew Symonds will face off. Both are currently part of the Aussie national team and have recently come off national duty for their team.
DC has been guilty of cricket suicide as skipper Gilchrist put it when they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against the Delhi Daredevils. Their fielding can also do with some improvement and there are several
batsmen who will be required to make their contributions for the team such as Herschelle Gibbs, Luke Pomersbach and Rohit Sharma, all of whom are due for a big score right about now.
What will be at the back of each team’s mind is that on the three occasions in the
IPL that the two teams have encountered each other, Kings XI Punjab, have got the better of Deccan each time. Whether the law of averages catches up with the Punjab team or not today, there is every likelihood of a riveting contest on hand.
