Under-fire Punjab look for first win (Preview)

With kind of composition they have and performances in last three seasons, Punjab have been already labeled as the weakest team participating in this season’s IPL. They did not do any favours to their credentials as they combusted against Pune to start this edition without a loss.

Except skipper Adam Gilchrist, batting lineup doesn’t boast of a big name and there is too much of inexperience which was evident during their first game. They didn’t offer any resistance and gave their wickets away cheaply leading to the pathetic show with bat and ultimately losing the match.

Even, bowling unit doesn’t send shivers to the opposition camps and to make matters worse they had a poor day in the field dropping three catches.

For Punjab to show any fight and instill belief among the players, experienced players like Gilchrisht, Dinesh Karthik, Shaun Marsh and Praveen Kumar need to step to the stage. Youngsters need to be given the confidence and belief, and encouraged to play their natural game. With team lacking match winners, focus should be shifted to gelling the team together and make it to play as a unit.

There will be too much pressure and reliance on Gilchrist to perform and inspire the side with his batting effort and leadership. Shaun Marsh will have to bring his A game into fore to be support act for his countrymen and same is expected from talented Karthik and young Sunny Singh who can hit a long ball and play fearlessly.

Only positive from the first game was the way all-rounder Ryan Mclaren batted, bowled and fielded. He looks a player who can be expected to change the fortunes of the team.

Praveen Kumar needs to pick up the wickets with the new ball as he does while playing for Indian and his state mate leg spinner Piyush Chawla would expected to get the wickets in the middle overs.

Their opponents and defending champions Chennai are on a role for they started their title defence with a win in a close fought game against Kolkata. Led by captain cool as he is known in most circles for his terrific leadership skills, MS Dhoni adds an extra dimension to this side. That is to make team believe that games can be won from any situation for he knows how to get best out of boys.

No doubt, they start favorites for Wednesday’s encounter for they possess a horde of quality players in their squad and what works in their favour is the fact that retained the nucleus of the players that played for them in last three seasons.

They have everything what it takes to win the big event. A quality batting line-up, bowling department with variety, good fielding side and that Midas touch of Dhoni is what makes it a strong team.

It will be difficult for Punjab bowlers to tie down quality batsmen like Suresh Raina, Albie Morkel, Murali Vijay and Dhoni himself and it would be a mistake for opposition’s batsmen to take Chennai bowling lineup lightly.

The pitch at Mohali is expected to be full of runs but also it will have something for fast bowlers and spinners to offer.

CHENNAI

Players who can make impact…

Suresh Raina…He has been IPL’s best batsmen for last three seasons. Indian left hander knows his game better and that world in his favour. Under Dhoni, he has excelled to pile up runs in any format of the game. What makes him dangerous is his ability to play shots and run hard between the wickets.

Tim Southee…One of the emerging fast bowlers in the world who has already scripted some victories for his country New Zealand in his short career. His strength lies in his ability to swing the ball and with adding yorker and a slower ball to his armory; Southee has become a very potent bowler. He showed his temperament when he bowled a superb last over against Kolkata when batting side needed only nine runs to win.

SQUAD

Albie Morkel, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger, Dwayne Bravo, Faf du Plessis, George Bailey, Joginder  Sharma ,Michael Hussey, MS Dhoni (c)(wk), Murali Vijay, Nuwan Kulasekra, R Ashwin, S Badrinath, Scott Styris, Shadab Jakati,Srikkanth Anirudha, Sudeep Tyagi, Suraj Randiv, Suresh Raina, Tim Southee, Wriddhiman Saha, Yo Mahesh.

PUNJAB

Players who can make impact…

Ryan Mclaren…Punjab’s best player in the first game as he displayed his all-round skills by following his under pressure half-century with a good bowling spell. Someone as level headed as Mclaren, can be very useful for a Punjab side with lot of inexperience in the ranks. He has played lot of t-20 cricket and his skills and experience should bring some stability to Punjab.

Sunny Singh…A young Punjab batsman who has the shots to score at a brisk rate. Sunny has an ability and power to hit a long ball. Only thing he needs to do is be touch patient at the crease and make most of his talent and opportunity. He can well copy his skipper Gilchrist how to pace the innings.

SQUAD

Abhishek Nayar, Adam Gilchrist (c)(wk), Amit Yadav, Bhargav Bhatt, Bipul Sharma, David Hussey, David Miller, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Love Ablish, Mandeep Singh, Nathan Rimmington, Nitin Saini, Paras Dogra, Paul Valthaty, Piyush Chawla, Praveen Kumar, Ryan Harris, Shalabh Srivastava, Shaun Marsh, Siddharth Chitnis, Sunny Singh, Vikramjeet Malik, Ryan McLaren.