Gujarat Lions host Kings XI Punjab in their seventh Indian Premier League 2017 match at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot in the first of the double-header on Sunday.
Suresh Raina's men head into the match on the back of snapping their four-match losing streak against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Friday. The skipper led the team from the front in chase of 188 with a 46-ball 84 as he was helped by a strong opening partnership between Brendon McCullum and Aaron Finch.
On the other hand, Kings XI are looking to get back to winning ways after losing four on the trot. Despite Hashim Amla scoring a ton on Thursday to help them post 198, they lost their last match against Mumbai Indians by eight wickets on Friday as their bowlers were taken to the cleaners by Jos Buttler and Nitish Rana.
Raina's timely return to form should boost Gujarat, who are struggling at the bottom of the points table with four points from six matches. West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo is close to attaining full fitness and he might take the field today at home, which will add firepower to the bowling unit, which has been bolstered by the return of Ravindra Jadeja and James Faulkner.
On the other hand, Kings XI's have been inconsistent with both their bowling and batting units. Ishant Sharma needs to take responsibility and the bowling attack as inexperienced campaigners Sandeep Sharma and Mohit Sharma are struggling to keep opposition batsmen quiet.
Skipper Glenn Maxwell will look to snap their losing streak today but they will have to be at their best to stand a chance against the Lions, who will be eyeing to build some momentum.
Team News
Gujarat
Possible XI: Raina (c), McCullum, Smith, Karthik (wk), Bravo, Kishan, Jadeja, Faulkner, Kumar, Kulkarni, Thampi
Punjab
Possible XI: Maxwell (c), Amla, Vohra, Marsh, Saha (wk), Stoinis, Axar, Mohit, Sandeep, Aaron, Ishant
