A cracking contest is on the cards as Kings XI Punjab take on Delhi Capitals at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on Monday night. Both teams have won two out of their three games thus far and are coming into this match on the back of inspiring victories. While Punjab won against Mumbai Indians at home courtesy of a good knock from Lokesh Rahul, the Capitals edged past Kolkata Knight Riders in a thrilling Super Over encounter at the Kotla. The two teams have well-rounded squads with lots of options to choose from. Their top order batsmen are firing on all cylinders and the outcome of the match will be determined by how well the top four of the two teams perform.
Both teams have some international names in their pace bowling department. The likes of Kagiso Rabada, Chris Morris, Mohammed Shami and Andrew Tye will enjoy bowling on a Mohali strip that assists fast bowlers initially. Having said that, the spinners need to be at their best. They will see their deliveries traveling straight into the stands if they miss their mark even by an inch.
If the two sides are compared on overall strength, the Capitals have an edge owing to better depth in the batting department. But Punjab are a force to reckon with at home and the support of the home crowd always works wonders for teams.
Weather and Pitch update: Clear Weather throughout match duration. The pitch is a paradise for batsmen.
A cracking contest is on the cards as Kings XI Punjab take on Delhi Capitals at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on Monday night. Both teams have won two out of their three games thus far and are coming into this match on the back of inspiring victories. While Punjab won against Mumbai Indians at home courtesy of a good knock from Lokesh Rahul, the Capitals edged past Kolkata Knight Riders in a thrilling Super Over encounter at the Kotla. The two teams have well-rounded squads with lots of options to choose from. Their top order batsmen are firing on all cylinders and the outcome of the match will be determined by how well the top four of the two teams perform.
Both teams have some international names in their pace bowling department. The likes of Kagiso Rabada, Chris Morris, Mohammed Shami and Andrew Tye will enjoy bowling on a Mohali strip that assists fast bowlers initially. Having said that, the spinners need to be at their best. They will see their deliveries traveling straight into the stands if they miss their mark even by an inch.
If the two sides are compared on overall strength, the Capitals have an edge owing to better depth in the batting department. But Punjab are a force to reckon with at home and the support of the home crowd always works wonders for teams.
Weather and Pitch update: Clear Weather throughout match duration. The pitch is a paradise for batsmen. It may have something for pacers initially but batsmen will enjoy batting for the major part of it.
Player Recommendations:
Wicket-keeper: Lokesh Rahul (10 Cr)
Rahul didn't get off to the best of starts after getting dismissed cheaply in the first two games. However, he turned it around in the previous game against Mumbai Indians with an unbeaten 71 off 57 deliveries. He was Punjab's highest run getter last season and has the ability to repeat his act this time as well.
Batsman: Chris Gayle (10 Cr)
Gayle has already shown good form in the league. He has scores of 79, 20 and 40 in the first three games so far. Moreover, he averages over 60 at the PCA Stadium in Mohali and that suggests fireworks once again in this match.
All-Rounder: Chris Morris (9 Cr)
Morris has just arrived in India and the last match against Knight Riders was just a warm up. He is capable of big hauls with both bat and ball. With the lack of good all-rounders in this match, Morris is the only one who stands out.
Bowler: Sandeep Lamichhane (8.5 Cr)
Lamichhane showed his potential in the previous match as he bowled a superb spell of 4-0-29-1 on a batting strip. He has played in T20 Leagues all around the world and has experience beyond his age.
Captain: Chris Gayle
Vice-Captain: Sandeep Lamichhane
Predicted XIs:
Kings XI Punjab: Lokesh Rahul, Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Sarfaraz Khan, David Miller, Mandeep Singh, Hardus Viljoen, Ravichandran Ashwin, Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Andrew Tye
Delhi Capitals: Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Colin Ingram, Hanuma Vihari, Chris Morris, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kagiso Rabada, Harshal Patel, Amit Mishra
