<p>Sunrisers Hyderabad will aim to pick up pieces after their drubbing in the hands of Chennai Super Kings as they aim to get past Kings XI Punjab in a IPL encounter, here on Saturday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>On paper, Sunrisers are favourites having won seven out of their 12 games and are currently at the fifth spot — a notch above Kings XI who have got 10 points.<br /><br />A win on Saturday will certainly help the Hyderabad franchise in their bid to make it to the knock-out stages of the competition. <br /><br />Kings XI has to win their remaining four games to give themselves even a glimmer of hope for surviving in the competition but Sunrisers also can’t afford a slip-up after their 77-run defeat against the title favourites. <br /><br />Sunrisers had an unbeaten run at home clinching thrilling wins against formidable teams such as Mumbai Indians and Royals Challengers Bangalore until CSK buried them under a mountain of runs in their last match. <br /><br />The lethal bowling attack of Sunrisers comprising the world’s best fast bowler Dale Steyn, India international Ishant Sharma and portly leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who is one of the highest wicket-takers in IPL-VI, besides dependable Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera, would look to exploit the bouncy conditions of the Mohali track. <br /><br />However, in Thursday’s match against Rajasthan Royals, Punjab skipper Adam Gilchrist had found the Mohali track “slow and dry” contrary to its known nature. <br /><br />Like Punjab, batting has been a major area of concern for the Hyderabad side, though that has shown some improvement after injured Shikhar Dhawan and West Indies captain Darren Sammy joined the team. <br /><br />On the other hand, veteran Gilchrist, who had dropped himself after being out-of-form, scored an useful 42 against Rajasthan Royals just the other day.<br /><br />The problem with the Kings XI team has been their lack of consistency in the batting department, which Gilchrist acknowledges is a serious area of concern.<br /><br />The batting which comprises players like David Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Mandeep Singh and David Miller has failed to click as a unit, and barring couple of individual performances, has let down the team on most occasions.<br /><br />*SHIKHAR DHAWAN: The Delhi left-hander can be an explosive batsman at the top and his ability to find gaps is quite astonishing, particularly through off-side. Dhawan is also adept at playing aerial shots and his all-round game will come in handy for Sunrisers. <br /><br />* DAVID MILLER: In South Africa, Miller has been earmaked for big things in international cricket and he showed a glimpse of his talent while scoring a blazing hundred against RCB. His contribution will be vital for Kings XI to thwart the Sunrisers’ bowling attack.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Sunrisers Hyderabad will aim to pick up pieces after their drubbing in the hands of Chennai Super Kings as they aim to get past Kings XI Punjab in a IPL encounter, here on Saturday. <br /><br /></p>.<p>On paper, Sunrisers are favourites having won seven out of their 12 games and are currently at the fifth spot — a notch above Kings XI who have got 10 points.<br /><br />A win on Saturday will certainly help the Hyderabad franchise in their bid to make it to the knock-out stages of the competition. <br /><br />Kings XI has to win their remaining four games to give themselves even a glimmer of hope for surviving in the competition but Sunrisers also can’t afford a slip-up after their 77-run defeat against the title favourites. <br /><br />Sunrisers had an unbeaten run at home clinching thrilling wins against formidable teams such as Mumbai Indians and Royals Challengers Bangalore until CSK buried them under a mountain of runs in their last match. <br /><br />The lethal bowling attack of Sunrisers comprising the world’s best fast bowler Dale Steyn, India international Ishant Sharma and portly leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who is one of the highest wicket-takers in IPL-VI, besides dependable Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera, would look to exploit the bouncy conditions of the Mohali track. <br /><br />However, in Thursday’s match against Rajasthan Royals, Punjab skipper Adam Gilchrist had found the Mohali track “slow and dry” contrary to its known nature. <br /><br />Like Punjab, batting has been a major area of concern for the Hyderabad side, though that has shown some improvement after injured Shikhar Dhawan and West Indies captain Darren Sammy joined the team. <br /><br />On the other hand, veteran Gilchrist, who had dropped himself after being out-of-form, scored an useful 42 against Rajasthan Royals just the other day.<br /><br />The problem with the Kings XI team has been their lack of consistency in the batting department, which Gilchrist acknowledges is a serious area of concern.<br /><br />The batting which comprises players like David Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Mandeep Singh and David Miller has failed to click as a unit, and barring couple of individual performances, has let down the team on most occasions.<br /><br />*SHIKHAR DHAWAN: The Delhi left-hander can be an explosive batsman at the top and his ability to find gaps is quite astonishing, particularly through off-side. Dhawan is also adept at playing aerial shots and his all-round game will come in handy for Sunrisers. <br /><br />* DAVID MILLER: In South Africa, Miller has been earmaked for big things in international cricket and he showed a glimpse of his talent while scoring a blazing hundred against RCB. His contribution will be vital for Kings XI to thwart the Sunrisers’ bowling attack.<br /><br /></p>