Kings XI Punjab will take on the Royal Challengers from Bangalore (RCB) in what can prove to be an important encounter for both sides. Both the team are presently placed in the bottom half of the points table and a win for either side can help them immensely.

RCB will go into the match as clear favorites, they pulled off a miraculous run chase in their previous match and the best thing about their win was that two of their big international players put their hand up and guided the team home. RCB have always been one of the title contenders and they will be looking to get the winning momentum back.

Kings XI on the other hand has some serious problems. They are still not able to find the right combination and their bowling looks very week. In the last match they were outplayed and they will be looking to put up a better performance this time around.

Both these teams have some class players in their armory; let’s have a look at some of them.

Kings XI Punjab:

Shaun Marsh: The talented Australian succumbed to a controversial decision in the last match. Punjab team depends very heavily on him as their captain Gilchrist hasn’t been able to make a mark yet. Marsh can be devastating and is a very dangerous player at the end of the innings. KXIP will be hoping for another match winning innings from this gifted gentleman.

David Hussey: In the two previous match that he has played he got run-out, both the times his partner sold him out and that would have frustrated him immensely. Hussey is a game-changer, but the problem that KXIP is facing is that he is not able to spend much time on the crease. He is a very good hitter and can win the match on his own.

Piyush Chawla: He is the best bowler that KXIP have and he surely has bowled like one. Their bowling line-up is very thin and a lot depend on this young leg-spinner. Chawla is a genuine wicket taker and has been among the wickets. He is also very handy with the bat and can play some good innings.

Praveen Kumar: He is yet to take a wicket in this season and he will be hoping desperately that he can change the stats in this match. He is a good bowler and likes to be in the thick of action. He is one of the most experienced bowlers in the Punjab team and it is high point that he starts performing.

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

Chris Gayle: The man who hit five sixes in five balls is world’s most dangerous player in this format. He was the man who changed the fortunes for RCB in IPL-4 and it is looking that he is in the same mood this time as well. His innings won Bangalore the match against RCB and he will once again be looking to punish whoever comes his way.

Virat Kohli: Kohli came into the tournament with huge expectations from him, but till now he has not been able to live up to them. Kohli is a big player in the RCB team and they will want this talented batsman to find his feet sooner rather than later. 

Zaheer Khan: This ace Indian fast bowler has got his rhythm back and is bowling beautifully. Zaheer is the premier fast bowler in the RCB team and he is bowling the way his team needs him to bowl. Upfront he is a lethal bowler as he makes the ball move both sides and later in the innings he is very effective with his Yorkers and slower bouncers.

Vinay Kumar: He has bowled some descent spells in the tournament but overall he has failed to create the impression that was expected of him. He is a skitty type of bowler and can generate pace from the wicket. He has some sharp bouncers in his armory is an intelligent bowler in the death overs.

By Gaurav Jha

Indian Sports News Network