Kolkata Knight Riders will be aiming to end Kings XI Punjab's unbeaten run in the Indian Premier League. Catch all the updates...
Kolkata Knight Riders face Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League at Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Catch all the updates here (Scorecard | Commentary | Points Table | Full Schedule):
PREVIEW
Kolkata Knight Riders face the daunting task of stopping the marauding pair of Glenn Maxwell and David Miller in its tracks when they clash with Kings XI Punjab in an Indian Premier League match here on Saturday.
Maxwell has been in supreme touch since the start of the league, having trampled the rival bowling attacks with utter disdain. The Australian batsman literally toys with the bowlers as he hits them out of the park at will. With 279 runs at an incredible average of 93, Maxwell has hit an astonishing 17 sixes and 28 fours in three matches so far in an amazing display of power-hitting.
It will be interesting to see if Maxwell can bat the same way against wily spinner Sunil Narine, who has bamboozled even the good batsmen and has been economical at the same time.
KKR have also been blessed with the talent and experience of veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis in the side. They will surely look up to the South African legend to produce something magical to dismiss Maxwell early. (Read full preview)
SEHWAG ENJOYS MAXWELL'S COMPANY
Virender Sehwag is full of praise of Glenn Maxwell. The young Aussie has been the toast of the Indian Premier League 2014 and according to Sehwag, Maxwell has made a positive impact on Kings XI Punjab. On Saturday, Maxwell faces an acid test as he faces up to Sunil Narine, the Kolkata Knight Riders mystery spinner.
Maxwell - who leads the tournament with 279 runs at 93.00 with a strike rate of 212.97 - will look to continue his recent good run of form against Kolkata Knight Riders. Sehwag says Maxwell doesn't live off his past and treats every day as a new one. Times of India has quoted Sehwag as saying: "It is great to have Maxwell with us in the team. After the match, he forgets what he did on the field, and is very humble."
A winning team means a happy dressing room and if Kings XI Punjab are having a lot of fun in this IPL, a lot of credit can go to the energy Maxwell is bringing to the team. With an unbeaten record in three matches so far, Kings XI have the highest net run-rate too, followed by Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
"His positive energy is infectious, and he loves to play golf and goof around. It's a great atmosphere in the dressing room with Maxwell being there," says Sehwag, who scored an entertaining 30 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Sharjah on Tuesday. "It's nice to hit some good form. Hope to do better," said Sehwag, who wants to play international cricket for at least another two years. (Read full story)
KINGS XI PUNJAB'S AUSSIE CONNECTION
Even before the Indian Premier League was first launched in 2008, it was always thought during its idea days that foreign players would feature in a big way in the tournament. Players of different countries would play with and against each other, a factor which would attract the crowds in large numbers. However, an assessment of the seven seasons of the IPL shows a stark revelation.
The Kings XI Punjab franchise under the ownership of Preity Zinta have always gone on to sign a large contingency of Australian cricketers during each auction. It almost seems that Preity has a knack of getting players from Down Under. Since 2008, the likes of Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, David Hussey, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, James Faulkner, Adam Gilchrist, Ryan Harris, James Hopes and Simon Katich have graced the Punjab jersey at one time or another during the history of the tournament. Gilchrist and Hussey even had the honour of leading the side and the baton of captaincy has now been passed to Australia's current T20 skipper, George Bailey.
The fact that most Australian players have played for Punjab so far during seven editions of the IPL cannot be a mere coincidence. Cricket, like all other sports, is a game where the mental element has a big role to play over most things that happen on the field or off it. So let's consider the various factors. (Punjab's love affiar with Australia)
Story first published on: Saturday, 26 April 2014 16:52
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