The unexpected 10-day break has left both the RCB and the KKR with different goals to achieve and common challenges to hurdle over.
"Sometimes as a bowler, a batter is able to take his chances against you and get success. I saw videos with our bowling coach and my line and length were good, except for one ball. Sometimes, you get beat on good balls. But if you keep thinking about this, you will never make a comeback," he added.
IPL: Comeback-man Pant the highlight as Delhi Capitals take on Punjab Kings
If Punjab goes for a flat deck, there is no guarantee that the bowling unit can defend anything in the 220 range, especially when KKR have the likes of Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh, and Venkatesh Iyer in their ranks.
Delhi lost their last five wickets for seven runs in 10 balls.
For the home side, it has been a season of mixed returns so far. After early defeats to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians, KKR roared back to form in their last outing -- a commanding win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
'This team was incredibly difficult to select over such a highly competitive tournament. Selections were based predominantly on the Super 12 onward to the final.'
It was the Delhi Capitals pace attack at their menacing best as they sent the Royals' batting line-up collapsing in the Powerplay to take control of the contest.
Shreyas Iyer had led KKR to their first IPL title in a decade last year. However, on Saturday, he returns as captain of a rejuvenated Punjab Kings chasing a play-off spot.
DC has talented India bowlers like Mandeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and Chetan Sakariya
Reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders will hope that their strife-ridden batting unit will tighten its act against in-form table-toppers Gujarat Titans in the IPL match in Kolkata on Monday.
After applauding Anrich Nortje, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin, Ponting told his boys that, "Our tournament starts now."
South Africa skipper Aiden Markram claimed that batting on a 'slow and fresh' pitch in New York has been tough.
Images from the Indian Premier league match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals, in Dubai, on Wednesday.
South Africa's Anrich Nortje took the vital wickets of captain Joe Root and talisman Ben Stokes as England struggled to 262 for nine at stumps on the first day of the second Test on Friday. Pace bowler Nortje, playing his fourth Test, finished with 2-54 off 17 overs as the home side restricted the tourists on a Newlands wicket that was expected to be full of runs. Images from the opening day of the second Test at Newlands on Friday.
The depth of fast bowlers at South Africa's disposal was no better evidenced than on Thursday as Corbin Bosch and Dale Paterson took nine of the 10 wickets to dismiss Pakistan for 211 on the opening day of the first Test at Centurion.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Glenn Maxwell are among some of the big names that the existing franchises have decided to retain for IPL 2022.
Bought back by Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping Rs 23.75 crore at the IPL mega auction in Jeddah on Sunday, Venkatesh Iyer said he would be "more than happy" to take on the captaincy challenge and step into Shreyas Iyer's shoes.
'I played enough cricket with Tewatia, so was just having fun with him'
Punjab Kings need a big win to keep their IPL 2023 Play-Off hopes alive against wooden spooners Delhi Capitals.
The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is likely to see bowlers playing a crucial role in the success of teams.
Having got off to a start so typical of themselves in the Indian Premier League, Mumbai Indians will hope for a quick turnaround when they take on defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai on Monday.
Avesh Khan registered magnificent figures of 3/15 in his four overs, which included 16 dot balls, to limit Mumbai Indians to a below par 129/8 in their 20 overs.
Riyan Parag's attacking half-century set up a 12-run win for Rajasthan Royals against Delhi Capitals.
England proved devastating with both bat and ball on Saturday as they scored 400 runs in their first innings and then reduced sorry South Africa to 88 for six wickets at the close of play on the second day of the fourth Test at The Wanderers. Images from Day 2 of the 4th Test played between South Africa and England in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The most sensational catches that defined the encounter.
Debutants Afghanistan will aim to continue their impressive rise in white-ball cricket, while South Africa will once again attempt to shed the 'chokers' tag when the two sides kick-off their Champions Trophy campaign in Karachi on Friday.
In fact, the first over that Kagiso Rabada bowled, it seemed that the ball was hitting the bat rather than bat hitting the ball.
'It was a lot of hard work. We had to clear our minds and make sure that we believed.'
Hardik Pandya rose two places to become the first Indian to occupy the No 1 spot in the ICC's T20I all-rounders' rankings.
At stumps, Pakistan's score read 145/3 with Fawad and Babar unbeaten on 42 and 77 runs respectively. For South Africa, Keshav Maharaj picked two, Anrich Nortje took one while Kagiso Rabada went wicketless.
Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje are expected to spit fire on a track that will offer steep bounce as India's top-order gears up for its toughest test in adverse conditions against a top-notch South African side in the T20 World Cup on Sunday.
Travis Head struck a belligerent half-century to give Australia the upper hand on day one of the series-opening Test against South Africa after the home side's bowlers dominated on a green Gabba wicket on Saturday.
Also included is fast bowler Anrich Nortje, but in-form opening batsman Temba Bavuma will have to prove his fitness after injuring his hamstring against England on Sunday.
Delhi Capitals will need their under-performing Indian batters to deliver when they take on the mighty and versatile Gujarat Titans in the IPL match in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Images from Monday's Indian Premier League match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals, in Abu Dhabi.
Both DC and RCB have looked solid so far and are placed atop the standings with three wins out of four games each.
Reputations do go for a toss in the T20 format, but Delhi Capitals haven't been able to get past Chennai Super Kings in their last four meetings, and the margins of defeat -- 91, 27 and 77 runs respectively -- does paint a sorry picture.
The tiger, an intrinsic part of the DC logo, is bigger and bolder, as the team gears up to roar again!'
Getting the opportunity in the absence of Mitchell Marsh, who got married on Sunday, Manish Pandey lasted only one ball and the veteran batter will be keen to make an impact at Kotla.
