Even as they struggle to find the winning formula, laggards Kings XI Punjab will still fancy their chances when they host Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League cricket tournament in Mohali on Monday.
The dew factor will go out of the window but the searing heat will be an issue when Royal Challengers Bangalore take on a better prepared Rajasthan Royals in the first of the 10 IPL double-headers, in Abu Dhabi, on Saturday.
They endured a disastrous run the last time around to finish at the bottom of the heap and Kings XI Punjab would be aiming to make amends this season when they begin their campaign against newbies Gujarat Lions in their IPL opener in Mohali on Monday. Kings XI Punjab did not make any big buys this year and have a new captain in South African David Miller in place of Australian George Bailey who was released after leading the side to the last place in the previous season. Virender Sehwag has also retired and he will serve as team mentor this season. The Preity Zinta-owned side continues to lack the team balance as it has not added any significant player, only snapping the likes of all-rounders Farhaan Behardien and Marcus Stoinis, seamer Mohit Sharma and left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh. Last season, their batsmen lacked consistency and whenever they did well, the bowlers let the side down. On the other hand, debutants Gujarat Lions have a balanced side with top-class performers in both batting and bowling. They have explosive batsmen in Brendon McCullum, captain Suresh Raina, Aaron Finch and a plenty of top-notch all-rounders in Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja and James Faulkner.
Check out the Kings XI Punjab squad for the eighth edition of the Indian Premier League.
Rajneesh Gupta presents statistical summary of Kings XI Punjab and much more.
Fast bowler Dwaine Pretorius took a record 5-17 in South Africa's six-wicket victory.
Quinton De Kock said former captain Faf du Plessis' comeback after being rested for the Australia series, will hold the visitors in a good stead in the upcoming ODIs.
Sunrsiers' middle-order has hardly been tested and when the opportunity came against Mumbai Indians, the likes of Vijay Shankar, Manish Pandey, Deepak Hooda and Yusuf Pathan fell flat.
Images from the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore, in Mumbai, on Thursday.
From his early years to the duties and pleasures of royal life, we take a look at the life of the Duke of Edinburgh.
Punjab are lying at the bottom of the table with only one win from six matches, while the in-form Lions are the top of the IPL standings with six wins from seven matches.
The Most Valuable Player Index table is telling another (worrying?) story: Performance from players in teams that are not going to make the top four is dropping somewhat alarmingly. The IPL is gruelling and cruel. It can do wonders to your career, but can also seriously hurt your international prospects if you get injured in a match that is essentially inconsequential. Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index after Game 63.
A new look Kings XI Punjab under Ravichandran Ashwin will take on Delhi Daredevils in their opening encounter of IPL-2018 here tomorrow, as both sides look to begin the T20 tournament on a winning note.
Focus will now be on how Rabada would fare against the likes of Chris Gayle, Lokesh Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and David Miller.
For the visitors, the game against the Mandeep Singh-led India 'A' side will be more about getting into the match simulation mode before they get going against Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team in the opening T20 International at Dharamsala on October 2.
Faf du Plessis made a successful review of an lbw decision against him before guiding South Africa to a series-clinching six-wicket victory in the fifth and final One-dayer against New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday.
As we head to the head to the business end of the tournament, that involves three former champions, a look at the players who flattered to deceive, faltering under the weight of expectations, hurting their respective teams.
Kings XI Punjab throw up major surprise by retaining Punjab's 20-year-old batsman Manan Vohra, along with South Africa's David Miller.
The two teams are languishing at the bottom half of the table and need a win to keep alive their remote Play-off chances.
Images from the third One-Day International between South Africa and India, in Cape Town, on Sunday.
Richie Benaud, Australia's celebrated former cricket captain and commentator, died on Thursday at the age of 84. Here are a selection of quotes from the man who came to be known as the 'voice of cricket' during a 40-year career behind the microphone.
As coach Ricky Ponting pointed out, he would expect a better "on his feet" thinking from the young captain.
The 2016 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Player Draft was held in Barbados on Thursday, with the six franchises flexed their financial muscles to rope in their desired cricketers.
Axar Patel did the star turn as laggards Kings XI Punjab rode on the left-arm spinner's hat-trick to upset table toppers Gujarat Lions by 23 runs in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match.
After retiring from international cricket, former Australian speedster Mitchell Johnson will be making a sort of a comeback on the big stage when he represents Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League. Johnson's only competitive game of cricket since retiring from the international arena last November was a club game in Perth five weeks ago. But the left-armer hasn't lost any of the speed or skill that made him one of the fiercest fast bowlers in the world according to Kings XI captain David Miller. "The fire is definitely there and the pace is up there as well," Miller said. "I don't see why he's not going to do well.
Sri Lanka could manage only 137 all out in a chase that always looked beyond them to succumb to an eighth successive limited-overs loss
Images from the IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, in Mumbai, on Monday.
For Hyderabad, KXIP encounter is the last game where they can avail the services of Warner before he leaves home for Australia's World Cup preparations alongside Steven Smith and Marcus Stoinis.
West Indies thrashed New Zealand by 203 runs in the fifth and final one-day international at Seddon Park, Hamilton on Wednesday to draw the series 2-2.
Bolstered by the arrival of Ben Stokes, Rajasthan Royals will hope for a better showing from its misfiring top order as they try to settle scores against second-placed Delhi Capitals in their return leg IPL match, in Dubai, on Wednesday.
Images from the T20 World Cup Super 12s match between Bangladesh and South Africa, in Abu Dhabi.
Ross Taylor became New Zealand's most prolific One-day international century maker on Wednesday when his 102 not out guided his side to 289-4 in the second game of their five-match series against South Africa in Christchurch.
Ravichandran Ashwin played down the animated reaction from his Royal Challengers Bangalore counterpart Virat Kohli after taking his catch
South African captain Graeme Smith is reportedly unhappy with Cricket South Africa's (CSA) announcement of player contracts as it has been difficult for some of the players to handle.
Chennai Super Kings eliminated Kings XI Punjab from the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a five-wicket win, a result which sealed Rajasthan Royals' place in the Play-offs, in Pune, on Sunday night.
RCB have been inconsistent in their first six games in IPL-12, with both their bowling and batting faltering on many occasions.
Images from Sunday's IPL match between Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals in Sharjah.
While Sri Lanka will be fancying their chances against a lowly South African side, the Proteas would be more than keen to make a statement against the 1996 winners.
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