Having lost four out of six games each, Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad will seek to step up and get their campaigns back on track. Both sides got smothered during their respective chases on Saturday – with Kings XI sinking to the bottom – and are still fiddling with their combination in search of stability. Whichever team fires collectively on Monday will drift away from the congestion at the bottom half of the table.
Sunrisers finally had Trent Boult and Dale Steyn bowling together but it left their middle order lighter than usual. The Indian investments in KL Rahul, Naman Ojha and Hanuma Vihari have not only struggled to force the pace but have also found it difficult to keep the scorecard ticking. And this is where Kane Williamson could be crucial. Ravi Bopara has been tidy both with the ball and bat, but Sunrisers need a failsafe and they need it right now.
Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see if Kings XI Punjab bring back Glenn Maxwell after the procession against Chennai Super Kings. The hosts will also want their other two big overseas recruits – Mitchell Johnson and David Miller – to make substantial contributions rather than flicker briefly.
Form guide
Kings XI Punjab LWLLW (last five matches, more recent first)
Sunrisers Hyderabad LWLLW
Watch out for…
Sunrisers captain David Warner and his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan have accounted for 51.4% of the runs made by the team’s batsmen at an average of above 40 each. Considering the thin middle order, the openers will have to take it upon themselves to steer Sunrisers to a healthy total.
On the other hand, Sandeep Sharma and Anureet Singh will aim to break the opening stand quickly and make inroads. In addition to swinging the new ball, the pair has been effective with the yorkers at the death. The two are at the top of the wicket-takers list for the team with 17 wickets them. “I would even trust them when it comes to bowling on a wicket where there isn’t going to be swing,” Johnson had said.
Stats and trivia
Sunrisers have only 12 scores in excess of 160 in the past three seasons, the least by any IPL team
Sunrisers and Kings XI have 2-2 record in the IPL so far.
This will be Kings XI’s first home game in Mohali this season. In 2014, they played seven games in Mohali, winning six, including four Champions League T20 matches.
Quotes
“The middle order has to wake up and get runs for the team. If the middle order keeps batting like this then there is going to be too much pressure on Warner and Dhawan at the top of the order.”
KL Rahul on Sunrisers’ biggest worry
