IPL 2015: Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders at Pune, pick of the tweets

Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) will play against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 14th game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2015 at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium (MCA), Pune on Saturday. This will be the first away game for KKR. Both teams will hope to bounce back with a win after losing their previous encounter.

For KXIP, they lost their previous encounter against Delhi Daredevils (DD), who won their first game in this IPL after 11straight losses. The middle-order failed to capitalise the start given by the opening duo of Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay. KXIP have lacked the M and M (Glenn Maxwell and David Miller) and need to start firing as soon as possible.

The bowling comparatively has been good with Anureet Singh and Sandeep Sharma bowling well at the top. Mitchell Johnson was expensive in the previous match but a bowler of his class can always be relied on. Akshar Patel has bowled well in patches while Rishi Dhawan so far has been expensive.

On the other hand, KKR had a mixed start this IPL with a win and a loss. They lost against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), when their former player Chris Gayle absolutely mauled them. Skipper Gautam Gambhir has had a really superb start with two fifties in two matches. The middle-order is very concrete with Manish Pandey, Suryakumar Yadav, Yusuf Pathan and Andre Russell.

The main concern comes with Sunil Narine’s dip in magic. The West Indian has not picked up a single wicket in the two matches he has played. Though Narine hasn’t been expensive, the lacked of wickets have indeed been a concern. Shakib-Al-Hasan’s departure to Bangladesh paves a way for Azhar Mahmood or Brad Hogg, both fine players of the limited over’s cricket.

It will be an evenly matched contest with two finalists of previous IPL to go all guns blazing. Criclife presents you with the pick of the tweets.