Kings XI started their IPL 2013 campaign against Pune Warriors and inflicted severe damage on the claims of Warriors being a strong team. Warriors have not done much to retain confidence in them, but their win over Chennai Super Kings certainly show promise. Kings XI has a bigger batting problem than any other team in the IPL 2013. And their batting woes may see them losing the Home game against Warriors today.
History
Warriors have failed to win many matches but against Kings XI they have won the first 3 games of their clashes. In the last two matches Kings XI have managed to win. In 2013, in their first match at Pune, Warriors not only scored below-100 total, but Kings XI also registered the 5th biggest IPL win by number of balls remaining.
Head-to-Head: PWI 3, Kings XI 2
2011
- Pune Warriors def Kings XI Punjab by 7 wkts, MOM: S Bagh
Pune Warriors India def Kings XI Punjab by 5 wickets, MOM: Rahul Sharma
2012
- Warriors won by 22 runs, MOM: Samuels
Kings XI win by 7 wickets, MOM: Mascarenhas
2013
- Kings XI won by 8 wickets, MOM: Manan Vohra
2013 Performance
Warriors have lost 4 of their 6 matches played and won 2. Kings XI have lost 3 of their 5 matches, winning two. While Warriors have defeated the IPL kings, Chennai Super Kings, Kings XI boast of defeating the defending champion, Kolkata Knight Riders. But both know that is no more than a fluke as they have fared badly, specially Warriors.
Warriors 2013 Matches and Results
Kings XI 2013 Matches and Results
Overall Performance
Warriors have won only 10 matches so far in their 3 editions of IPL. In 2011 and 2012 they won 4 each, losing 9 and 12, respectively. Overall they have 10 wins, 25 losses and 1 no result against Delhi Daredevils in 2011.
Kings XI on the other hand were the semifinalists in 2008. Since then they have been on the bottom side of Points Table. Overall they have won 38, and lost 39.
Key Players
Kings XI: David Hussey, Praveen Kumar
Warriors: Finch, Smith, B Kumar, Rahul Sharma
Verdict
Kings XI have proved supremacy in first match after registering record win over Warriors in terms of number of balls remaining. But after that they have been shaky. They have also suffered the worst IPL defeats in terms of wickets against CSK, at home.
Their team statistics show how their bowling and batting has lost consistency. David Hussey in batting and Praveen Kumar in bowling are fighting the lone battles.
Warriors should win today having better firework and their batsmen would like the pace-friendly pitch that Mohali would offer. Kings XI have their own pace-battery to trust. But Pune’s better batting unit may neutralise the impact of Praveen Kumar and Azhar Mahmood.
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