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Preview: M3 - KXIP vs GL
11 Apr, 2016
Preview: M3 - KXIP vs GL
11 Apr, 2016
What
Match 3 of Vivo IPL 2016 will feature the Kings XI Punjab playing host to Gujarat Lions.
While KXIP have been around since the inception of the IPL, Gujarat Lions joined the IPL bandwagon in December 2015 when mobile phone manufacturer Intex won the rights for the Rajkot franchise.
Kings XI Punjab, who have Virender Sehwag as their mentor, will be hoping for a vastly improved showing over their last season’s performance when they finished at the floor of the eight-team standings, while Gujarat Lions will want to quickly establish themselves as fierce competitors.
When
11 April 2016, 2000 Hrs IST
Where
IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali
Weather
Temperature: Max 27°c, Min 23°c
Humidity: Max 42%
Wind: 9kmph
The Protagonists
If, as expected, Kings XI Punjab make room for Shaun Marsh in the XI, he will play an important role at the top of the innings. The other opener Murali Vijay, Captain David Miller and Glenn Maxwell will also be expected to make significant contributions with the bat. On the bowling front, Mohit Sharma, who was signed up for a whopping INR 6.5 Crore, will be expected to do the job be did so well for the Chennai Super Kings.
It will be surprising if the Gujarat Lions decide to leave either of Aaron Finch or Brendon McCullum to warm the benches. Finch has scored more than 35 in six of the eight T20 innings he has played so far in 2016, while you cannot just bench a destructive player like McCullum, who was CSK’s top run-getter in IPL 2015. Despite having to deal with the additional responsibilities of captaincy, one expects Suresh Raina will be at ease in this format. On the bowling front, the Lions will eye wickets from the “Champion” Dwayne Bravo and James Faulkner.
Trivia
David Miller, who will captain Kings XI Punjab, has very little experience when it comes to captaincy; he has only been captain in three senior-grade matches so far.
Dwayne Bravo, the Purple Cap winner in IPL 2015, holds the record for taking the most wickets in a calendar year; he took 69 wickets in 47 T20 matches in the year 2015.
Suresh Raina, the Gujarat Lions captain, is the most-capped player (132 matches) and the leading run-getter (3699 runs) in the IPL.
If Aaron Finch goes on to make his debut for the Gujarat Lions, it will be the sixth IPL franchise he will have represented. He has in the past represented the Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Daredevils, Pune Warriors India, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians. Only other cricketer – Parthiv Patel – has represented six different franchises so far.
What Next
Gujarat Lions head to their base in Rajkot and play their first home fixture of the IPL when they take on Rising Pune Supergiants on April 14, while Kings XI Punjab travel to Delhi for their away fixture against Delhi Daredevils scheduled for April 15.
