Kings XI Punjab favourites to master Kolkata Knight Riders

CUTTACK: The seventh edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been witness to some sensational batting that inadvertently drew comparisons to the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag.
Although the comparisons may be a bit too premature, the Kings XI Punjab batsman Glenn Maxwell, undoubtedly, has carved a niche for himself in the sphere of T20 cricket with his stroke-play and fearless approach at the wicket.
The Victorian, who scored an audacious 90 against a strong Super Kings bowling unit here at the Barabati stadium on Wednesday, will have to say a silent prayer if he is to emulate his blitzkrieg as incessant downpour from Saturday morning has cast fresh doubts over their encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday.
With the sun hardly making an appearance, the overcast conditions may well be to Punjab's liking with pacers Sandeep Sharma and Mitchell Johnson in full swing.
Sharma - part of the 2012 U19 World Cup-winning squad, has been a revelation with the ball, often leaving the opposition top-order in tatters with his movement in the air and off the pitch.
The success story of Kings XI, though, does not solely rest on the laurels of Maxwell and Sharma. Their South African import David Miller, too, has been in ominous touch with the bat.
With a 29-ball 66 against Royal Challengers on Friday against his name, the southpaw would be looking to extend his form against Gautam Gambhir & Co. Virender Sehwag has shown glimpses of his old self, but he is yet to make a substantial contribution to catapult him into the Indian team again. Viru's Delhi and India opening partner, Gambhir, has been struggling with consistency.
Barring Robin Uthappa, none of the KKR top-order batsmen have shown the application nor the consistency to see them through to the last-four stage.
The likes of Jacques Kallis, Yusuf Pathan and Manish Pandey have hardly looked the part as Gambhir's men have faltered five times in eight encounters.
The fragile middle-order has caved in more often than not under pressure and against Rajasthan Royals they reached a new abyss, losing six wickets for just two runs in Ahmedabad. This despite a hundred-run opening stand between Gambhir and Uthappa.
The bowlers, too, have been on the expensive side for KKR and with Maxwell and Miller in the opposition ranks; things look bleak for the Morkels and the Yadavs. And Sunil Narine has hardly got support from the other end.