Two teams built around aggressive intent are set to clash in the Mullanpur afternoon heat. Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings (PBKS) have looked the more settled unit so far, unbeaten in three games, while SRH have swung between extremes.
PBKS, though, do not have too many reasons to tinker. Their combinations have worked, the roles are clear, and even in areas where individuals haven’t fired, the structure has held. Josh Inglis, who was there last year, has been replaced by Cooper Connolly, who looks like a serious talent. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer’s leadership has got better.
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Firepower up top as Connolly looks to make No. 3 his own
Punjab’s opening pair of Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh has quietly done its job. They may not have produced a defining stand yet this season, but both have given starts. Prabhsimran, in particular, looks in good rhythm with scores of 37 and 43, and has been the more assured of the two.
Arya, on the other hand, brings a different dimension. His 39 off 11 against CSK showed the kind of damage he can do if he gets going. Between them, PBKS have a pair that complements rather than mirrors each other.
At No. 3, Cooper Connolly has been one of the early finds of the season. An unbeaten half-century on debut followed by a brisk 36 has already justified his inclusion. What stands out is how quickly he has adapted to Indian conditions, especially against spin. If he continues this way, PBKS have effectively solved a position that troubled them last year.
Shreyas Iyer slots in at four, and while he has not had a big innings yet, his role remains crucial. Against SRH, he will be aware of the matchup challenge. Jaydev Unadkat and Harshal Patel have both dismissed him multiple times in the IPL, which makes his approach in the middle overs worth watching.
Predicted Punjab Kings Playing XI vs SRH
| S. No. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Priyansh Arya |
| 2 | Prabhsimran Singh (wk) |
| 3 | Cooper Connolly ✈️ |
| 4 | Shreyas Iyer (c) |
| 5 | Nehal Wadhera |
| 6 | Shashank Singh |
| 7 | Marcus Stoinis ✈️ |
| 8 | Marco Jansen ✈️ |
| 9 | Xavier Bartlett ✈️ |
| 10 | Arshdeep Singh |
| 11 | Yuzvendra Chahal |
| 12 (Impact Sub) | Vijaykumar Vyshak / Harpreet Brar |
Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis form the middle order that PBKS are backing at the moment. Wadhera has not quite got going yet, but the management is likely to persist. Shashank and Stoinis haven’t had enough time in the middle to be judged. All three are superb names and have done well for the franchise.
Will Iyer change the bowling unit?
The real strength of this side lies in its all-round balance. Marco Jansen is one of the best young talents going around in the globe. He has a massive upside that the IPL is yet to see. Xavier Bartlett has been impressive as well. Even in the washed-out game against KKR, he showed how dangerous he can be with the new ball, picking up two early wickets through movement.
Arshdeep Singh is the one name under a bit of scrutiny. He is yet to pick a wicket this season and has conceded 99 runs in 10 overs. However, PBKS are unlikely to move away from him just yet, especially given his record against SRH’s top order. He has dismissed Travis Head twice in three IPL innings and has also had success against Ishan Kishan.
Yuzvendra Chahal remains the key spin option. On a surface that is expected to slow down through the afternoon, his role becomes even more important, particularly against Heinrich Klaasen.
Cricket
Predicted SRH Playing XI vs PBKS: Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Kumar Reddy under scanner
