Chennai: At the halfway stage of the IPL, Punjab Kings appeared to be cruising to the playoffs. But, having collected just one point from their last two matches, Punjab (11 points from 9 games) have slowed down a bit in their march to the top-four.
With the tournament heading towards its final phase, the Shreyas Iyer-led PBKS need an injection of pace in the closely-contested playoff race. The trip down south to face a beleaguered Chennai Super Kings (4 points from 9 games) on Wednesday will serve as an opportunity to show fellow top-four chasers that Punjab are in the mix.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In what could be a ‘must-win’ clash for PBKS in the larger scheme of things, the visitors will again bank on the dynamic duo of Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh for the opening act. Enforcers Priyansh and Prabhsimran have generally gone full throttle with their hell-for-leather batting during the Powerplay. But on an MA Chidambaram Stadium track which by no means is a belter, the youngsters may have to come up with a measured approach, just like they did in the 120-run partnership against Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata.
Priyansh, who announced himself with a breathtaking century in the previous meeting between the teams, has not been as potent against spin. Therefore, the early introduction of left-arm chinaman Noor Ahmad could be an option for MS Dhoni and Co.
Who's that IPL player?While Punjab have preferred to beef up their batting, they have hardly had meaningful returns from their middle and lower-order operators recently, especially the overseas ones. Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis have taken turns to occupy two seats and it remains to be seen who get the nod to tackle the ‘unpredictable’ Chepauk surface.
PBKS fast-bowling coach James Hopes backed the middle-order to fare better with more volume of deliveries faced. “It can get quite tough when the top-order is doing well and the chances are limited. Our middle-order has not faced many balls in the last couple of weeks. The players are training well. The likes of Nehal Wadhera, Glenn, Josh and Shashank Singh will come good and have their moments when required,” said Hopes.
Considering CSK’s persistent struggle to press the accelerator in the middle overs, spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Harpreet Brar could be vital to the tourists’ chances.
As for the sinking Super Kings, they are still searching for a driving force to escape securing the wooden spoon. Teenager Ayush Mhatre and Dewald Brevis, the new ‘kids’ on the block, have been a breath of fresh air in a CSK campaign bereft of positive batting intent. The odds, taking into account PBKS’ form and recent performances at the venue, favour the visitors, but CSK will be determined to regain some lost pride at its ‘den’.
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