Kings XI Punjab have shown glimpses of their capabilities but somehow, have not been able to deliver the knockout punch to get over the line
And now, they are up against an in-form Chennai Super Kings in their own den in their Pepsi IPL match here today. Punjab fell just four runs short against Mumbai Indians chasing 175 for a win at Wankhede.
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Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Punjab did not throw in the towel and fought until the very end. CSK, on the other hand have had a smooth campaign so far, winning eight out of the 10 games and are sitting comfortably at the top of the table. Chennai, having won six games on the trot, with Mike Hussey and MS Dhoni in full flow, are clearly the team to beat.
The Aussie, like an old wine, seems to be getting better with age. He already has 450 runs under his belt and is the second highest run-getter in the competition. Dhoni, on the other hand has been leading from the front.
All-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo have contributed notably with bat and ball. With a T-20 specialist like Albie Morkel getting just one go in the tournament so far, the former champions have a problem of plenty.
Gilchrist’s wishlist
>> He comes back into the team and makes a strong statement
>> David Hussey fires
>> David Miller continues to impress
>> Dhoni gets less balls to face
>> Michael Hussey departs early
Dhoni’s wishlist
>> He keeps his big hitting form going
>> Hussey continues his great run
>> Dwayne Bravo makes an impact with bat and ball
>> David Miller goes early
>> Bowlers bowl miserly in death overs
When they last met... Cakewalk win for Chennai!
Kings XI Punjab had a forgettable day at the office when they locked horns with Chennai Super Kings on the last occasion on April 10, 2013. Hosts Punjab showcased a timid batting performance scoring just 138 runs after put into bat. The visitors backed up their disciplined bowling effort with a clinical chase, keeping all ten wickets intact and 16 balls to spare. u00a0