Sunrisers Hyderabad will aim to pick up pieces after their drubbing in the hands of Chennai Super Kings as they aim to get past Kings XI Punjab in a Pepsi Indian Premier League encounter, here today.
On paper, Sunrisers are favourites having won seven out of their 12 games and are currently at the fifth spot -- a notch above Kings Xi who have got 10 points.
A win on Saturday will certainly help the Hyderabad franchise in their bid to make it to the knock-out stages of the competition.
Kings XI has to win their remaining four games to give themselves even a glimmer of hope for surviving in the competition but Sunrisers also can't afford a slip-up after their 77-run defeat against the title favourites.
Sunrisers had an unbeaten run at home clinching thrilling wins against formidable teams such as Mumbai Indians and Royals Challengers Bangalore until CSK buried them under mountain of runs the other night.
Chasing a mammoth target 224 for victory, Hyderabad could manage only 146/8, with opener Parthiv Patel (44) and unbeaten knock of 39 by leg-spinner Karan Sharma were the only saving grace in that massive defeat.
The lethal bowling attack of Sunrisers comprising of world's best fast bowler Dale Steyn, India international Ishant Sharma and portly leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who is one of the highest wicket-takers in IPL-VI, besides dependable Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera, would look to exploit the bouncy conditions of the Mohali track.
However, yesterday in a match against Rajasthan Royals here, Punjab skipper Adam Gilchrist had found the Mohali track "slow and dry" contrary to its known nature.
Ishant Sharma will like to forget the thrashing he got at the hands of Chennai batsmen in the previous game like a bad dream.
