IPL Schedule 2016: Fixtures, Start Times, Viewing Details and Predictions
Kings XI Punjab will look for their first win of the 2016 Indian Premier League season on Sunday when they take on Rising Pune Supergiants, one of the new IPL Twenty20 franchises. Elsewhere, Royal Challengers Bangalore look to remain undefeated as they take on Delhi Daredevils in Bengaluru.
Royal Challengers have featured in just one match so far, a comprehensive 45-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, and led by Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, the team is expected to do well this season.
Delhi cruised to a win over Kings XI Punjab in their last match but haven't impressed with the bat yet, and a clash with Bangalore will give the side the opportunity to show they can put up runs in bunches.
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Here's a look at the upcoming fixtures, complete with viewing info and predictions:
| April 17 | 11:30 a.m./4 p.m. | Kings XI Punjab vs. Rising Pune Supergiants | Mohali | Pune Win |
| April 17 | 3:30 p.m/8 p.m. | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs. Delhi Daredevils | Bengaluru | Bangalore Win |
| April 18 | 3:30 p.m/8 p.m. | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Mumbai Indians | Hyderabad | Mumbai Win |
| April 19 | 3:30 p.m/8 p.m. | Kings XI Punjab vs. Kolkata Knight Riders | Mohali | Kolkata Win |
| April 20 | 3:30 p.m/8 p.m. | Mumbai Indians vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore | Mumbai | Bangalore Win |
| April 21 | 3:30 p.m/8 p.m. | Gujarat Lions vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad | Rajkot | Hujarat Win |
| April 22 | 3:30 p.m/8 p.m. | Rising Pune Supergiants vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore | Pune | Bangalore Win |
| April 23 | 11:30 a.m./4 p.m. | Delhi Daredevils vs. Mumbai Indians | Delhi | Delhi Win |
| April 23 | 3:30 p.m/8 p.m. | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Kings XI Punjab | Hyderabad | Hyderabad Win |
Click here for the full tournament schedule. Watch all matches live on Sky Sports and live stream via Sky Go (UK only).
Preview
Between De Villiers, Kohli and Chris Gayle, Bangalore have the offensive firepower to hang with anyone, something the team certainly showed in their win over Hyderabad.
Despite the presence of Daredevils leg-spinner Amit Mishra and Zaheer Khan, most fans and pundits assume Royal Challengers will be able to put up runs on Sunday―the question is whether Delhi will do the same.
Daredevils went all-out for just 98 in their first match and weren't tested against Punjab. Two matches into their campaign, no one knows what the team's attack is capable of, and this match against Bangalore couldn't come at a better time.
Quinton de Kock's unbeaten 59 made the difference against Kings XI, while Sanju Samson added 33 from 32. Those are solid numbers, but against Punjab's struggling bowlers and with a target of just 112 runs to chase, it's hard to read too much into them.
Bangalore aren't known for their bowling prowess, and given the relative proximity of the boundaries in their home ground and their powerful attack, Royal Challengers will aggressively chase wickets and not worry when they give up clusters of runs.
As reported by Rohan Talpade of the team's official website, Harshal Patel weighed in on the challenges of bowling in Bengaluru:
"It’s a challenge to bowl on this ground because 180-190 is a par score here. The margin for error is very small. Like our slogan says ‘Play Bold’, we just go out there and play bold. We back our skills and plan according to what has worked on this ground and what has not worked on this ground. We just back ourselves to execute it.
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Gayle hasn't found his best form so far, but with Kohli and De Villiers firing on all cylinders, a score of 160 or more seems likely for Bangalore. It will be up to De Kock, Samson, Shreyas Iyer and ICC World T20 Championship hero Carlos Brathwaite to keep pace, and that could prove a tall order.
The chasing teams have found plenty of success in this year's IPL, and if Delhi wins the toss, sending the hosts out to bat may be a good idea. But even then, expect Bangalore to come away with the win.
Elsewhere, Punjab will attempt to grab their first win of the season against Pune, who impressed in their first-ever IPL match against Mumbai Indians before slumping to a seven-wicket loss against fellow newcomers Gujarat Lions.
Lions have looked fantastic in the early goings of the IPL campaign, so losing to that side after putting up 163 runs certainly isn't a disgrace. And in all likelihood, Supergiants should return to their winning ways soon―cricket writer Ayaz Memon summarised Punjab's last showing, against Daredevils, like this:
Punjab scored 111 runs in that contest, with star batsmen David Miller and Glenn Maxwell combining for nine runs.
The duo powered Kings XI to the final in 2014, and when Miller and Maxwell aren't at their best, things tend to collapse in a hurry―that final was Punjab's first foray into the play-offs since 2009.
Mitchell Johnson retired from international cricket last year for a reason―while he's still a solid bowler, he's no longer the force he was in his prime. Now 34 years old, he shouldn't be relied on to carry Punjab's group of bowlers, but that's exactly what the team asks of him.
Unless Miller and Maxwell suddenly find their best form, Pune should win this one rather easily.
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