Kings XI and Lions in search of re-ignition
Two teams looking to change their fortunes soon face-off in Rajkot - Gujarat have begun their path to recovery but how long will it take Kings XI?
The Preview by Sreshth Shah
22-Apr-2017
Match facts
Gujarat Lions v Kings XI Punjab
Rajkot, April 23, 2017
Start time 1600 local (1030 GMT)
Rajkot, April 23, 2017
Start time 1600 local (1030 GMT)
Head to head
Overall:
Lions and Kings XI have a 1-1 record against each other, winning their respective away games in 2016.
In the news
Gujarat Lions' victory at Eden Gardens has boosted morale in their camp. Captain Suresh Raina returned to form with a match-winning 84 and said his wanted to "restart" their season. Whether Dwayne Bravo, who on Tuesday said he was "a couple of games away" from full fitness, makes an appearance or not remains to be seen.
Should Kings XI think about bringing in Matt Henry?
0 votesYes, their bowling is very thin
No, they need the overseas players contributing to their batting strength
Lions' beefed-up batting fired in Kolkata, and may have to keep performing above potential, given their bowlers have underwhelmed.
Kings XI Punjab began their season with back-to-back wins, and have lost four on the bounce since. They seemed to spark back to life in their last game, only for Mumbai Indians to demolish a target of 199 in 15.3 overs. Eoin Morgan and David Miller were dropped for that game. Manan Vohra too was absent, due to illness, and if he has recovered he could take back his role as opener and Shaun Marsh could be pushed to No. 3.
Both sides have almost reached a stage where anything less than a win would hamper their qualification chances.
The likely XIs
Kings XI Punjab 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Manan Vohra, 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 Glenn Maxwell (capt), 5 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Mohit Sharma, 9 Sandeep Sharma, 10 Varun Aaron, 11 Ishant Sharma
Gujarat Lions 1 Brendon McCullum, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Suresh Raina (capt), 4 Dwayne Smith, 5 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6 Ishan Kishan, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 James Faulkner, 9 Praveen Kumar, 10 Dhawal Kulkarni, 11 Basil Thampi
Strategy Punt
Stats that matter
Sreshth Shah is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo