The Kings XI Punjab batsmen, primarily Glenn Maxwell and skipper David Miller, need to deliver and stand up against Rising Pune Supergiants at PCA Stadium in Mohali. The duo holds the key role against the formidable Rising Pune Supergiants.
The Kings XI Punjab fans have not found a reason to rejoice in IPL 2016 as their team have lost both the matches so far. But, the Kings XI will want to give their fans a reason to cheer in Mohali. They have quality players in the side, who can fire on all cylinders.
Kings XI Punjab have a solid batting line up with openers like Manan Vohra and Murali Vijay, and solid middle order, comprising Miller and Maxwell, who are yet to fire. Miller has been a brilliant hitter of a cricket ball for South Africa and Kings XI in the past, but he needs to bring his A game against RPS on Sunday. The skipper is confident of the way he has been hitting the ball and it may just be a matter of time.
"I do the same processes. I stick to whatever I have done in the past. I just would like to clear my mind, and I have been very clear. I am hitting the ball very nicely. As a batsman, I believe you need to go out there with the mind-set that has worked for you in the past. So I am going to stick to what has worked for me," ESPN Cricinfo quoted Miller as saying.
With the pitches in Mohali set to assist the batsmen, one can expect Miller and Maxwell to fire them to victory. However, they also need their bowlers to fire against RPS, who have brilliant individual match-winners.
Ajinkya Rahane has batted well in his first two matches for RPS, and with Faf du Plessis and Kevin Pietersen also looking equally good, Dhoni's team will be itching to bat in Mohali. If these RPS batsmen get going, it could be catastrophic for the home team.
Pietersen believes that he just wants to focus on his team, and defeat Kings XI Punjab.
"We are just going to worry about what we do. It doesn't matter what the opposition does. T20 cricket is about momentum and when it is with you, it's good; when it is against you, not so good. How that works, I don't know. They have got a very good team on paper, we have also got a very good team on paper," Cricbuzz quoted Pietersen as saying.
Not only does RPS possess a number of quality batsmen, but they have some brilliant all-rounders, including Mitchell Marsh and Rajat Bhatia, who reads the game and bowls according to the situation. But skipper Dhoni will want his fast bowler Ishant Sharma to make early inroads, and dismiss Kings XI top order, which could take things easier for the visitors.
Where to watch live
Kings XI Punjab vs Rising Pune Supergiants IPL 2016 – is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. IST (11:30 a.m. BST, 6:30 a.m. ET). Live TV coverage of the Kings XI Punjab vs Rising Pune Supergiants IPL 2016 match will be on Sony Max, Sony Six/HD, Sony ESPN/HD. Online options are available on Hotstar and Starsports.com.
Sky Sports 2 will broadcast the Kings XI Punjab vs Rising Pune Supergiants IPL 2016 match live in the UK and Ireland, with the live stream options on Watch Sky Sports and Sky Go.
Viewers in the US can watch Kings XI Punjab vs Rising Pune Supergiants IPL 2016 on ESPN, while the game can also be live streamed on Watch ESPN. Sportsnet and viewers in Canada can watch the Kings XI Punjab vs Rising Pune Supergiants IPL 2016 on Watch Sportsnet
OSN Sports Cricket will show Kings XI Punjab vs Rising Pune Supergiants IPL 2016 live in the Middle East and North Africa, while all the action can also be watched via live streaming online on OSN Cricket Play.
Supersport and Supersport Live Video will broadcast IPL 2016 match in South Africa.
Viewers from across the world, around 133 countries, can watch the IPL 2016 match live online on Cricketgateway.
