Kings XI Punjabs problems start at the top with their skipper Adam Gilchrist,who is failed to make an impact so far. The team started with a win over Pune Warriors,the first time they began an IPL season on the right note but two successive losses have seemingly drained the team of the momentum. Gilchrists dismissal against Rajasthan Royals,when he failed to clear mid-off,is an example of him not being in prime touch. Gilchist hadnt played a game in close to a year before the IPL and it is clear that he still struggling to shake off the rust. But the form issues with regard to batting are not restricted to Gilchrist alone. In the last two games the Kings XI innings havent lasted 20 overs and in turn have posted below-par scores of 138 versus Chennai Super Kings and 124 against Rajasthan Royals. Coach Darren Lehmann said that the team will strengthen the batting for the game against Kolkata Knight Riders. We will add some firepower in our batting line-up. Luke Pomersbach or David Miller would get a chance in the game against KKR, Lehmann said. We have not been able to execute our game plan properly but we hope to win at home and give our fans something to cheer about, Lehmann added. Gilchrist is 41,the experienced Azhar Mahmood is 38,David Hussey (34) and Ryan Harris (34) no spring chickens. But the younger players in the side have potential with the onus on local batsmen Mandeep Singh and Manan Vohra to score big. When it comes to the bowling,a lot depends on medium-pacer Praveen Kumar,who did a good job against Rajasthan Royals by giving away just 10 runs and accounted for Rahul Dravid and Stuart Binny. In Parvinder Awana,Mahmood and Piyush Chawla they have a capable bowling unit. On the other hand,Kolkata Knight Riders are a team on the upswing having beaten Sunrisers Hyderabad by 48 runs in the previous encounter,a match in which skipper Gautam Gambhir used two of his mystery spinners Sunil Narine and Suchitra Senanayake. The contrast between the captains couldnt have been starker with Gambhir in good form and among the top-5 run-getters,while Eoin Morgan has been providing the runs in the middle order. There is tons of experience with Jacques Kallis in the KKR side.
