IPL 2017, KXIP vs GL: 5 things that went wrong for Kings XI Punjab

In a format where centuries are quite rare, Hashim Amla has made two of them in a single IPL season. Yet, he has found himself on the losing side on both occasions. Despite registering a formidable total on board, Kings XI Punjab came unstuck in the latter part of the game against a hungry Gujarat Lions batting lineup at the PCA IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali.

Extra Cover: IPL 2017, GL v KXIP – Hashim Amla’s scoop is the SK Play of the Match

Riding on Dwayne Smith’s 39-ball 74 as well as useful contributions from the middle-order, the Lions pocketed a six-wicket victory to add some respectability to their position in the league table. Here are five aspects that went wrong for Kings XI in the high-scoring contest.

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#5 Martin Guptill’s early dismissal

Martin Guptill could have created an impact had he stayed longer at the crease

During Punjab’s previous game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Martin Guptill struggled to come to terms with the slow nature of the track and perished while trying to force the pace. However, the surface for this game was one which offered considerable value for shot-making.

All he needed to do was to get himself in before showing his complete range of strokes. Sensing the importance of sending him back to the dressing room early, Pradeep Sangwan delivered a well-directed bouncer at Guptill. Perhaps ruffled by the unexpected change in length, the opening batsman was unable to control his pull and subsequently paid the price.

If he had stayed on for a few more overs, Kings XI could have gotten off to a much more powerful start and the final total might have looked different.

#4 Dropping Dwayne Smith and Suresh Raina

David Miller dropped a straightforward chance to dismiss Smith

As the old adage goes, ‘Catches win Matches’. In a format where momentum can swing from one end to another within the space of a few deliveries, fielding becomes as important as the other two departments of the game.

Kings XI learnt the lesson in the hard way. The usually safe David Miller made a massive blunder by dropping a simple catch to reprieve Dwayne Smith. The Bajan had another life when Gurkeerat Singh Mann failed to latch on to a slightly more difficult opportunity than the previous one. When Suresh Raina offered a chance for the hosts to sneak through the back door, he missed another chance.

#3 Lack of specialist second spinner

Axar Patel could have fared better with specialist spin support at the other end

When T20s came into the picture, there was trepidation regarding the future of spinners amidst big bats and shortening boundaries. However, as the format took shape, it became apparent that taking pace off the ball would hold a significant leverage over well-set batsmen.

In this regard, Kings XI could have selected a specialist second spinner to partner the usually reliable Axar Patel. Instead of picking an array of seamers and having to make do with Glenn Maxwell’s part-time off-spin, the think tank had the option of using a wrist-spinner like KC Cariappa.

Even though their stocks do not sound promising, giving consistent opportunities to the slow bowlers is the only way to instil confidence and derive game-changing spells.

#2 Varun Aaron’s expensive penultimate over

Varun Aaron gave away 16 runs off the penultimate over

Extra pace makes Varun Aaron quite different from the other Indian seamers. When he gets it right, the 27-year old fast bowler can be a handful and keep even accomplished batsmen on their toes with his slippery action.

On other occasions when things go wrong (which seem to be more regular than the former), he can concede a copious amount of runs.

This game was one such forgettable encounter for Aaron. Tasked with delivering the all-important penultimate over, he gave away as many as 16 runs to bring the equation down to just 8 off 6 balls. From his full quota of overs, the right-armer had to part with 43 runs.

#1 Not suited for defending totals?

Kings XI have failed to defend totals on three out of five instances

Runs on the board often provide a comfort factor for any team in white-ball cricket. On the contrary, Punjab have batted first on five occasions in this IPL season and failed to defend their totals on three of those matches.

Having amassed 189, this was a golden opportunity for the home team to prise out the two vital points of offer. As with those earlier couple of matches against Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians, Kings XI were unable to weather the early onslaught of the opposition batsmen.

Perhaps, the lack of depth in the bowling attack unsettles skipper Maxwell whose pensive demeanour then gets transferred to the rest of the team members.