This season, their campaign has begun with a defeat, in a game they should have won, and Warriors will be hoping for a reversal that's as stark as the one they experienced in 2012. They were tied down in a small chase by some excellent bowling by Sunrisers Hyderabad, and their batting needs to come good against the Kings XI Punjab attack that can be a tricky opponent.
Kings XI Punjab are heavy on medium-pace and spin options that can restrict sides on slowish tracks, and the Subroto Roy Sahara Stadium appeared to produce a mixed bag last year, with several scores above 150 as well as totals as low as 121 that were successfully defended. Punjab have had their own concerns with deceptive starts. They had an impressive first season, but didn't make it to the knockouts in the next four. Last season, they didn't win more than two games on the trot and had a poor spell at home, just as Pune did.
Players to watch Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey, both from Karnataka, can be an explosive duo at the top of the order, but found the going difficult against Dale Steyn in the first game. Both opened last season, but not regularly and never together. Uthappa did slightly better than his partner, amid frequent shuffling in the batting line-up, but how they - attacking batsmen who love to dominate the bowling - perform in tandem remains to be seen. They did provide an indication, with a 145-run stand, albeit in a losing cause last year.
Parvinder Awana was in the limelight last IPL season with 17 wickets from 12 games, impressing many with his pace, at one point clocking 147 kmph against Mumbai Indians. He was ignored by selectors for the India A tour to the Caribbean last year, but a strong performance in the Ranji Trophy for Delhi won him a call-up to India's Test squad during the series against England. Among the quicker bowlers in India, he'll be closely monitored again.
2012 head-to-head These two teams played back-to-back games last season, and shared honours. Warriors beat Kings XI by 22 runs in the first game. The second one was a low-scorer, with Warriors being bowled out for 115 and Kings XI chasing it down comfortably. Dimitri Mascarenhas picked up a five-for.
Stats and trivia Pune Warriors have played 31 IPL games in all, but are yet to have a centurion.
David Hussey stands an excellent chance of completing 5000 runs in T20 cricket. He is on 4821 currently, 75 behind Chris Gayle and 453 behind leader Brad Hodge.
Match DetailsIPL 2013 League Match
Pune warriors Vs Kings XI punjab
Date:Sunday, April 7, 2013
Start time: 1600 (1030 GMT)
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