Both Kings XI Punjab and Gujarat Lions are in the exact same position on the points table in the Indian Premier League 2017, with two wins and four losses from six matches played. With nearly half the league phase done, it’s make-or-break time for a whole lot of franchises bunched together, and the one who can string a sequence of wins together will be better placed to make the playoffs.
Punjab have looked better overall but are coming on the back of a demoralising defeat while Gujarat will be buoyed by a crucial win. Punjab saw Hashim Amla score a maiden T20 century and rack up a team total of 198, only for Mumbai Indians to make a mockery of the supposedly steep target, getting there in 15.3 overs.
Gujarat, on the other hand, hunted down Kolkata Knight Riders’ 187 for 5 despite being reduced to 122 for 5 at one stage, riding on Suresh Raina’s explosive but controlled 84 off 46.
Both teams have still been searching for their ideal combinations, especially among overseas players. Punjab finally dropped the out-of-form David Miller and gave Shaun Marsh a go, having him open with Amla. Marsh had a reasonable enough outing, and having been an integral part of the Punjab side for so long, they are likely to persist with him even though Martin Guptill is waiting in the wings.
The bowling, though, will need some serious looking at. Ishant Sharma gave up 58 runs in four overs, and with T Natarajan there, you would expect a swap. Raina spearheads clinical Gujarat chase past Kolkata’s 187/5
Bowling has been Gujarat’s Achilles heel too. They finally gave James Faulkner a go in the match against Kolkata and were rewarded for it with a couple of tight death overs that played a crucial part in keeping the Knight Riders down to a manageable total. However, to accommodate Faulkner, they benched Andrew Tye, who has been their best bowler of the season so far. With Raina rediscovering form and Brendon McCullum consistently giving good starts, Gujarat can look at getting Tye back in for either Aaron Finch or Dwayne Smith to beef up the bowling further.
Head-to-head record:
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