Five things Kings XI Punjab should do to beat Chennai Super Kings

Five things Kings XI Punjab should do to beat Chennai Super Kings: We are up for an exciting battle later tonight at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium as Chennai Super Kings host Kings XI Punjab. Last season, both the teams played three matches and in all those occasions, Kings XI bulldozed the Super Kings quite convincingly. But in this season, while Super Kings are heading towards the top, KXIP are in the seventh position after losing three of their five matches. A win tonight will put them back on track. Let’s take a look at the five things what the Kings XI should do to dismantle the Super Kings at home. 5. Open the bowling with a spinner: Kings XI Punjab should consider going in with two frontline spinners in today’s match.(Photo Source:BCCI) Kings XI Punjab should consider going in with two frontline spinners in today’s match. Akshar Patel is finally getting into his grove and another spinner backing him will do wonders for them. Opening the bowling with a spinner will be an interesting option as Chennai Super Kings opener Brendon McCullum has some difficulties while playing the spinners at the start of the innings especially when the ball moves away from him. Getting him early will put the brakes on CSK right away. It won’t be a bad idea if Kings XI prefer leg-spinner Karanveer Singh to offie Shivam Sharma. 4. Kings XI should have their best batters at the top: Kings XI should have their best batters at the top. (Photo Source:BCCI) Batting is the strength of Kings XI Punjab and they should make full use of it. Instead of playing Wriddhiman Saha at three, Punjab should have their best batsmen at the top of the order. With George Bailey doubtful of today’s clash due to shoulder injury, Kings XI will go with the same line-up that defeated Rajasthan Royals in the Super Over few days back. Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay opening the innings followed by Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell and David Miller will put pressure on Super Kings bowlers. 3. Finish off Sandeep Sharma’s spell early: Finish off Sandeep Sharma’s spell early.(Photo Source:BCCI) Sandeep Sharma has been Kings XI’s most dangerous bowler as he swings the ball both ways and troubles the batsmen early on in the innings. But the same can’t be said of him in the death overs or when the ball becomes old as he tends to leak runs because he lacks pace. Against a mighty batting line-up like that of Chennai, skipper Virender Sehwag should try and complete his spell on the trot. It could well see him pick some wickets similar to what he has done in the past. Adding to that, Chennai’s in-form opener Dwayne Smith has some weakness against the swing bowling and who better to exploit it than Sandeep. 2. Give Glenn Maxwell the license to go berserk: Give Glenn Maxwell the license to go berserk. (Photo Source: BCCI) Australia’s middle order batsman Glenn Maxwell was a vital cogwheel in Kings maintaining an unbeaten record against Chennai last season. He, along with Miller destroyed Chennai in their first match and in the second match, Maxwell single-handedly won it for Kings XI Punjab and in the Play-Off’s his cameo backed Virender Sehwag’s ton and helped his side to reach a score of over 220. But in the current season, Maxwell is yet to set the stage on fire and today could well be his day against his favourite opposition. Kings XI should give Maxwell the freedom to attack from the first ball and put the bowlers on the back foot straightaway. He will also look to get the better of R Ashwin after the offie got his wicket in the Semi-Finals of the World Cup. 1. Preserve Mitchell Johnson for Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo: Preserve Mitchell Johnson for Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo.(Photo Source:BCCI) Chennai has a batting line-up that bats deep. If they have wickets in hand going into the last five overs, the bowling team is set to have a bad time in the field. So, Kings XI should preserve their premier bowler Mitchell Johnson to bowl to Chennai’s best batsmen. Johnson should make Raina play just outside the off stump at the start and should bowl odd short balls, which is Raina’s weakness. Against MS Dhoni, Johnson should try and bowl full outside the off-stump similar to what Nuwan Kulasekara and Lasith Malinga planned against Dhoni in the finals of the World T20. If Johnson manages to keep these batsmen at bay, the battle is half won by Kings XI Punjab. Whatever the situation is, Punjab should play fearless brand of cricket and should back themselves for a win in Super Kings own den.