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Sandeep key as Kings XI seek revival against unbeaten RR
Sandeep Sharma might not have threatening pace, or even the kind of physique most fast bowlers have, but his ability to move the ball makes him quite effective early on.
Sandeep Sharma might not have threatening pace, or even the kind of physique most fast bowlers have, but his ability to move the ball makes him quite effective early on.
And the Kings XI Punjab skipper George Bailey asks Sharma to bowl first up, ahead of Mitchell Johnson, in the ongoing IPL season. Sharma is the only bowler this season to have an economy rate of below six (5.37) and it is creditable that he has managed it against some big-hitters of the game.
The Punjab bowler has picked up seven wickets in four games, including 4/25 in the previous match against Kolkata Knight Riders. However, the effort failed to fetch victory for his team, which has struggled this season.
Sharma, 21, suffered back problems that forced him to miss most part of the domestic season after last year’s IPL, but the Punjab pacer made it count when he made his comeback after rehabilitation work at the National Cricket Academy.
Unlike the previous season, Punjab are nowhere near their best but the medium pacer has maintained his form.
And this form could be the clinching factor when the King's XI take on the unbeaten Rajasthan Royals in Tuesday's IPL clash.
The Royals have won all five of their matches so far and are looking to carry forward this momentum to become the first team to secure a playoff spot.
