The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Must-win situation for both teams

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Must-win situation for both teams

Sunil Gavaskar

Last year's champions the Deccan Chargers have found that they have not been able to recapture their form of last year.

They lost the opening game of this year's IPL when at one stage it looked as if they would coast to a win and maybe that has dented their confidence considerably.

Just as it took a few years for a lot of players to understand that in the 50 overs format it was not necessary to go slam bang from the first ball and that wickets in hand in the last 10 overs or so invariably ensured a healthy scoring rate that made up for a earlier slow start.

In T20 too teams who try and hit from the first ball are finding that consistency is elusive and so even if they have players who are capable of taking an attack apart it is not easy particularly after the opposition has got a good score.

To chase successfully when the asking rate is over 10 an over is to have an anchor man and have the others blast around him as was seen when Kallis first played the solid role and then took off almost vertically to get the Royal Challengers a famous win.

The Deccan Chargers have a fabulous batting line-up. Any team that has Adam Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Symonds and Rohit Sharma is an outfit that has to be feared.

Timing factor

Unfortunately they all have been trying to hit the ball a little too hard and missing out on the timing factor and thus getting out.

It doesn't matter how hard a ball is hit, it is still only going to be a boundary or a six and for a six more often than not it is timing that is the key.

The King's XI Punjab will have to play well above themselves to show that the loss to Royal Challengers despite getting over 200 is not bothering them.

They need Yuvaraj to fire and he may still be hurting not just from the wrist injury but his sacking as the skipper of the team.

He can destroy any attack in this form of the game and it is vital for Kings XI that he gets runs sooner than later.

Manvinder Bisla has been a revelation and Ravi Bopara is as always smooth as silk.

It is a must win match for both as a loss will mean an uphill climb to get into the semis.

With the summer coming in a bit early it is not going to be easier on the players either so the sooner they notch wins the better for them.

Professional Management Group

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