Nothing like a resounding victory to recharge a team! Kings XI Punjab comes to Hyderabad energised by the extraordinary feat of humbling defending champion Chennai Super Kings and overhauling the season's highest total so far.
As the highest scorer this season so far, Paul Valthaty could well be the find of IPL-IV. After all how many can reduce the irrepressible Adam Gilchrist to playing second fiddle and mere bystander! The high-scoring Mumbaikar fulfilled the very purpose of the league's formation — to unearth talent.
Not to be left too far behind, the Deccan Chargers compiled an equally imposing 175 for five against Royal Challengers Bangalore, ending a three-year drought on home soil to record an authoritative victory. Thursday's performance provided ample evidence of the Hyderabad squad's wherewithal to lock horns with the best.
Consistent Chipli
Its Orange Cap contender Bharat Chipli has shown that consistency is his forte, notching up one productive knock after another. That he could almost single-handedly steer his side to a sizeable total would be another feather in his cap. And Chargers could sure do well with match-winning talents such as this Shimoga native.
Also bound to bolster the Chargers will be Cameron White, whose batting credentials are well known but can also wring his wrist to churn out some spin, should the need arise. Another major plus will be the pulverising power of its pace trio comprising Dale Steyn, Manpreet Gony and Ishant Sharma.
Criss-crossing captains Gilchrist and Sangakkara, besides wanting to spur their sides forward, will be waiting to really fire with the bat. The Chargers' skipper regained his touch on Thursday but is capable of much more.
Forecasts in this format being fraught with frailties, picking a winner for Saturday's showdown wouldn't really be wise.
Nonetheless there should be enough fireworks to light up the Hyderabad night sky.
No practise
A drizzle caught the Deccan Chargers unawares when they arrived at the venue on Friday afternoon for their practice session. Shortly after, it began to rain but alert staff rushed into the ground to cover it.
Both teams were thus unable to practise on the eve of the contest.
