David Hussey targeting Chris Gayle’s wicket – Cricket News Update
Wary of the star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore batting line-up, Kings XI Punjab’s stand in captain, David Hussey, has revealed that their focus in Friday’s crucial match will the in-form explosive RCB opener Chris Gayle.
KXIP’s Australian import, who will be standing in for the injured Adam Gilchrist in the crunch game against RCB in Mohali, said that they will try to remove Gayle as early as possible, adding that the Caribbean big-hitter has
the potential to single-handedly take the game away from any opposition, on his day.
"He is one of the best players in the world in this format of the game,” said Hussey, himself a hard-hitting middle-order batsman, on the eve of the match.
“Our plan is to execute our skills to perfection and try getting him out for a low score. If we don't get him out early, he can take the game away from us. He can win it for the team on his own," he added further.
The 34-year-old Western Australia all-rounder is also wary of the formidable Bangalore batting line-up, featuring likes of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Saurabh Tiwary, all in top form.
Batting has been a major let down for the Kings XI Punjab so far in the tournament, with their top and middle-order struggling to get starts. Shaun Marsh is the only Punjab batsman who has shown glimpses of his class in the
previous matches. With a tally of 105 runs in 4 outings, the 28-year-old left-hander is the only batsman in KXIP ranks to have scored a fifty this season.
Former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, who has recently reached India after having his visa issue fixed, is likely to be included in the side for Friday’s match to strengthen the struggling middle-order.
"Azhar is a very classy player. He always did well for Pakistan. He always did well for his County side Kent in England. He provides the right kind of experience to the team. He is a good middle-order player," said David Hussey on the eve of the match.
With four points from five games, Kings XI Punjab find themselves seventh on the standing, ahead of RCB, who also have six points from an equal number of games but lag behind KXIP on the basis of net run rate.
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