Punjab looking to stay unbeaten

Both Rajasthan and Bangalore are coming off losses and will be hoping for better performances when they meet today. The Royals, though, will be the team under pressure having lost two of three while exposing a frail batting line-up.

In contrast, their southern opponents have won two of three and only lost out to the Kolkata Knight Riders in the last over, with five wickets still in hand, inspired by an outrageous Chris Lynn catch to dismiss AB de Villiers. The Rajasthan Royals had managed a last-over win against Hyderabad, who have been in poor form themselves, in their opening match.

They then lost two, against a Glenn Maxwell performance for Punjab and a typically intimidating one by Chennai. Don’t count them out though, with Shane Watson saying he would come up the order to help out the team early on. Of course, that alone won’t be enough as they will have to better their team showing as both batting and bowling failed on separate occasions—the bowling against Punjab and the batting against the Super Kings.

The components are all there in Ajinkya Rahane, Stuart Binny, Sanju Samson and skipper Watson. The perennial overachievers will just have to push harder. The bowling line-up is not too shabby either, having the services of James Faulkner, Kane Richardson, Brad Hodge and Steven Smith. Domestic boys Dhawal Kulkarni and Rajat Bhatia also have to step it up.

PUNJAB VS KOLKATA

The Knight Riders might have stopped a stumbling chase left far too late to finish, but there won’t be any half-hearted attempts by the marauding pair of Glenn Maxwell, David Miller and the other nine kings from Punjab. Maxwell, as the whole world knows by now, has been in outrageous form this season of the league, having trampled bowling attacks with a slight smile and cricketing shots that should make it to the coaching books very soon. Even so, don’t forget that the Australian was dropped more times in three games than others are in whole seasons.

The man who has an incredible average of 93 should be preparing for an interesting duel with Sunil Narine, who’s proving to be the best bowler in the format in the world. And he’s been very stingy with the bad balls.

Kolkata can also bank on the experience of Jacques Kallis, who’s talent and agility belies the veteran’s age. If not magical, they’ll be hoping for a professional performance against the unbeaten Punjab. Recover ing his form in Maxwel l’s shadow is Virender Sehwag, who’s looking like the long overdue innings is struggling to break out. His 30-run knock in the last match had snapshots of what he would look like with his rhythm intact. The weekend should be exciting.