Sahara Pune Warriors vs Kings XI Punjab
Date: Sunday, 10th April 2011; Time: 20:00 IST
Venue: DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
One of the two new introductions to this seasons IPL 2011 season, Sahara Pune Warriors take on Kings XI Punjab at the the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.
Sahara Pune Warriors lead by Yuvraj Singh will face his former team Kings Punjab XI who he captained in the previous season. This time around Kings Punjab XI is lead by Adam Gilchrist who was recruited from Deccan Chargers and was also the captain of the latter.
Sahara Pune Warriors
Sahara Pune Warriors are the second new team in this season IPL the other being Kochi Tuskers who lost their opening game against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
But this new side is captained by Yuvraj Singh who was capped as the 'Most Valuable Player' of the ICC 2011 World Cup. Sahara Pune Warriors is a team packed with batsmen who on some or the other occasion have played in the previous versions of IPL.
Sahara Pune Warriors do pack a punch when you have look at their batting line up. With as much as four players to select for the opening pair, which shows the competition within the team.
But Yuvraj would definitely prefer Grahame Smith with Manish Pandey (first centurion in IPL) up front. Pune have recruited Robin Uthappa from Bangalore who not only is a hard hitter in the middle order but can keep as well, especially in absence of Tim Paine who wont be available for first few matches due to Australia's Tour of Bangladesh.
Middle order sees captain Yuvraj followed by New Zealand's Jesse Ryder and Mithun Manas. Yuvraj would definitely look to bat at no. 4 or 5, which means Ryder will come in at 3rd. So looking at the batting line-up, Sahara Pune Warriors would definetly want to pile up some runs ahead.
Sahara Pune Warriors do lack in their bowling department especially due to the recent injuries picked up by pace bowlers Nehra and Angelo Matthews which will see them miss out on a couple of games.
They do have a young fast bowler in the form of South African Wayne Parnell who will open the bowling for Pune. He will be supported by ex- Kolkata Knight Riders player Murali karthik who has had a decent run in the previous IPL versions. Sahara Pune Warriors also have Kiwi part time spinner Nathan McCullum who can pack a punch with the bat as well.
So all in all a decent team with young players who will have a point to prove under their leader Yuvraj Singh, will give 6/10 for Sahara Pune Warriors.
Kings XI Punjab
Many fans were surprised when Preity Zinta and co did not retain Yuvraj Singh in their squad, although this happened before the World Cup. But after Yuvraj's success in the World Cup, Kings XI punjab must be pretty annoyed that they did not retain their valuable player.
But if not Yuvraj and who better to lead than the dashing Australian Adam Gilchrist. Adam Gilchrist was the one who captained Deccan Chargers and took them to the IPL 2009 trophy but had a contrasting season in 2010 with a batting average of 18.06.
As with Pune Warriors, Kings XI Punjab also have a good batting line up. In Gilchrist they have a explosive opener and partnering him up-front will be Shaun Marsh who had an excellent inaugural IPL season.
Middle order will see the likes of David Hussey and Abhishek Nayar, both having a good strike rate in the T20 format. Dinesh Karthik who is also a decent bet with the bat will look to keep gloves behind the stumps.
In bowling department Punjab have Ryan Harris and Praveen Kumar to open the bowling and his spinning options rest on Piyush Chawla who did not have good outing in the ICC World Cup 2011.
So many changes have taken place in the Kings XI Punjab dressing room, but with a leader like Adam Gilchrist to head them they are a good outfit to challenge any sort of opposition thrown at them, will give 7/10 for Kings XI Punjab.
Probable starting X1's -
Sahara Pune Warriors: Grahame Smith, Manish Pandey, Jesse Ryder, Robin Uthappa, Yuvraj Singh(c), Mithun Manas, Nathan McCullum, Wayne Parnell, Murali Karthik, Kamran Khan, Harpreet Singh
Kings XI Punjab: Adam Gilchrist(c), Shaun Marsh, Dinesh Karthik, David Hussey, Chitnis, Abhishek Nayar, Praveen Kumar, Chawla, Wayne Parnell, Ryan Harris, Malik
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