Kings XI Punjab predicted XI against Sunrisers Hyderabad - R Ashwin to make tactical changes

Kings XI Punjab predicted XI against SRH - The team is hugely reliant on Chris Gayle and KL Rahul and would ideally want their middle order to fire in this crucial contest.

Kings XI Punjab are placed 5th on the points table, they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad, a side which is placed 4th - it is a proper mid-table muddle and both sides would fancy their chances of making it to the playoffs.

File image of KL Rahul, Chris Gayle (AFP)

The team is hugely dependent on Chris Gayle and KL Rahul, and after their two successive losses, they appear to be even more vulnerable when their openers do not click. Also, the pacers have been leaking runs and R Ashwin has a couple of decisions to make. In the crunch match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he could opt for Sam Curran and his big-match temperament. Also, he would expect his top order to stamp their authority over the game.

There are injury concerns with Moises Henriques and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and this could really put a dent to KXIP’s plans.

Ankit Rajpoot has been very expensive in the last two outings and this could pave the way for young Arshdeep Singh, but can the young man be trusted in such a crunch game?

In the previous meeting between these two sides, KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal combined perfectly to shunt away the threat of SRH bowlers. This has to be the template again if KXIP have to stamp their authority over the game.

KXIP predicted XI for the match against SRH:

KL Rahul, Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Mandeep Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin(c), Sam Curran, Hardus Viljoen, Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami