Kings XI Punjab Needs a Victory Against Deccan Chargers
THIS AFTERNOON at the hill city Dharamsala, one of the most important games of the Indian Premier League 2011 is scheduled. In the 67th game of the IPL 2011, Kings XI Punjab will take on Deccan Chargers at the HPCA ground in its last league match.
Kings XI Punjab, who has 14 points from 13 games, need a victory with as big a margin as possible against Deccan Chargers to keep alive its hope for the play-offs. However, Mumbai Indians has 16 points from 13 games. It is do or die Match for Kings XI Punjab.
In today's match, if Punjab manages to put up a good show like it did in the last game, then the team's prospects of reserving a berth for itself in the play-offs will brighten, if Mumbai loses against Kolkata Knight Riders in its last league game on Sunday.
On the basis of better run rate, Punjab will move up the fourth place in the points table, and will secure its berth for last four, but if today Deccan Chargers wins against Punjab, then the Punjab team will have no choice but to pack its bags.
Deccan Chargers, who won IPL in 2009 and have qualified for the last four in the IPL 2010, no longer stands a chance to make it to the final four in the on-going tournament. Deccan Chargers has 10 points from 13 games, and is at the eight place in the point table.
Former Deccan Chargers captain, Adam Gilchrist -led Kings XI Punjab performance in the ongoing tournament is most inconsistent. Punjab started its IPL 2011 campaign with a loss against Pune. However, in the next three games, Punjab registered victories against its opponents.
In the next five games of the IPL 2011, Punjab lost all the games at a trot, and was looking nowhere in the tournament, but the courageous team won the next four games and bounced back in the tournament with style.
Two Punjab batsmen Shaun Marsh and Paul Valthaty are the leading run getters in the Indian Premier League 2011 with 491 and 458 runs respectively.
In the green lush of Dharamsala, Kings XI Punjab vs. Deccan Chargers match will start at 4:00 pm this evening.
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