Pune Warriors India will need to find their batting form if they are to pickup their first win of the season when they take on Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2013 encounter.
PWI have so far posted two of the lowest totals of the tournament so far, even though on paper their batting orders looks quite menacing with the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Ross Taylor and Marlon Samuels.
Yuvraj, who missed the second game against Kings XI, has been passed fit and will play against the Royals, but Samuels has been ruled out with a groin injury.
"We have not shown the intent, we know that," Pune coach Alan Donald said. "That's what we have to address."
The openers - Manish Pandey and Robin Uthappa - two attacking batsmen at their best have also not clicked and Donald stressed on the importance of getting a good start.
"We have not batted well during powerplay," Donald added. "It could be the fear (of failure). Players like Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey are free-flowing batsmen in their own right, but they have gone into a shell.
"I have not seen that before. But we have got to knuckle down and it's my responsibility to help them lift their game. The mission is get off the blocks and show some intent."
Samuels will be replaced by Australian Aaron Finch, even though Pune have a couple of handy all-rounders in Steven Smith and Luke Wright. Donald insisted it was up to the players themselves to set things right in the IPL after seeing the side finish last season at the bottom of the table, while failing to pick up a win as yet this year.
"It's tough for them," Donald said. "Knowing the franchise and the torrid time they have been through in the last two years, I accept that. We have to keep it tight in the bus. Last year we fell off the bus and we went north, south, east and west. It's easy to go into a shell, but if we do we are dead as a team."
"We have people on board who can bounce back. The names on paper are not enough to win but we have the character, and now's the time to take responsibility. At the moment, we are scrapping but our intent will be the key. It takes one or two players to show how it's done and then we are away."
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