Adam Gilchrist's side outplayed the hosts in every department of the game. A disciplined bowling performance backed by sharp fielding helped Preity Zinta's franchise restrict the Warriors to 99-9.That was bad omen.
Gilchrist drove the first ball of the innings from Bhuvneshwar Kumar for four.Another four and a trademark clip off the pads into the square-leg stands amounted to 14 runs from the over.
The contest was over then and there, effectively. But Punjab's best was yet to come. The young combine of Mandeep Singh and Manan Vohra clinically dismantled the Warriors bowling while adding 58 runs from 44 balls for the second wicket.
Mandeep's belligerent 31 and debutant Vohra's unbeaten 43 saw the Mohali franchise romp home with 46 balls to spare.
Nothing went right for Pune, except for the turn of the coin. The hosts had suffered a setback even before the match began with Yuvraj Singh being ruled out with a back injury.
On the pitch, Manish Pandey's poor form continued with a four-ball duck as he played Praveen Kumar in the very first over.
The innings continued to stutter with none of the batsmen anchoring the innings. The only exception was Abhishek Nayar (25 n.o.) who, coming in at No. 7, ran out of able partners.
At least in the previous two seasons, the Warriors began the campaign on a winning note. Not this time. On the other hand, Kings XI couldn't have asked for a better start.
The emphasis on youth meant there was spring in the footsteps generally. Their electrifying fielding, capped by a lunging catch by Gurkeerat Singh Mann to dismiss Ross Taylor at fine-leg, easily helped save at least 20 runs.
The batting, too, promises a lot. If it was Paul Valthaty last season who proved to be the team's find, it could be Mandeep and Vohra this year.The duo, who play for the same state in domestic cricket, plundered five boundaries of an Ashok Dinda over to push the score to 44 for one in four overs.
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