IPL 2019, RR vs KXIP: Buttler heroics in vain as KXIP choke RR and win by 14 runs
IPL 2019, Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab, Live from Jaipur: Hello and welcome to our live blog of Match 4 of the Indian Premier League clash between Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab, live from the Pink city, Jaipur. The two heavyweight teams have an epic history and their battles have never failed to amaze. With the two teams carrying a balanced squad, the encounter becomes more fierce. Donning a Pink jersey this season, the Ajinkya Rahane led Rajasthan Royals will aim to claim three points, which means, going out with all guns blazing and that is by bringing their star players such as Smith, Stokes, Buttler and Archer. Punjab look to unleash a 'Gaylestorm' in Jaipur, which can be a decisive factor. Today's clash is expected to bring plenty of fireworks so do not miss out on any of the action as RR host KXIP live from the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Get all the live scores and updates here at IndiaTV Sports. (LIVE MATCH SCORECARD) (When and Where to Watch RR vs KXIP live)
Kings XI Punjab win the match by 14 runs
* Now, let's talk about the controversial moment which completely turned this game on its face. Ravichandran Ashwin mankaded Jos Buttler and that was the moment when 77 was needed off 43 balls. Sanju Samson and Steven Smith formed a partnership to propel the hosts but then came the over number 17. In an act of redemption, Sam Curran bowled an extraordinary over where he removed both Smith and Samson, and brought his team back into the contest. The following over by Mujeeb further dented Rajasthan as the Afghan also picked up two crucial wickets. From there on, Punjab just capitalized and earned a win out of nowhere.
* What a turnaround from Punjab! And it won't be wrong to say that Rajasthan have been 'Mankaded' here. Also, their first loss against Punjab at this venue. The chase was going very well for the home team as Jos Buttler and Ajinkya Rahane provided an excellent start in the Powerplay. The Rajasthan skipper fell but the Englishman continued and was very severe on all the bowlers, especially his countryman, Sam Curran.
23.33 IST: Ankit Rajpoot to Dhawal Kulkarni, A single from the last ball and that is it, PUNJAB WIN BY 14 RUNS. Length and on middle, this is hit down to long on for a run.
23.32 IST: Ankit Rajpoot to Krishnappa Gowtham, OUT! There goes Rajasthan's last hope! Another top delivery, a yorker, Gowtham looks to get under it but fails to do so. It goes off the bottom towards mid off where the fielder, Shami, runs in and takes it on the second attempt. Two-in-two for Rajpoot. He is on a hat-trick.
23.30 IST: Ankit Rajpoot to Jaydev Unadkat, OUT! A collision but the catch has been taken! Pooran though has come out worse there as he is down on the ground. A bumper, too quick for Unadkat. He looks to pull but gets a top edge onto his helmet. The ball lobs beside the pitch. Both the keeper and the bowler go for it. No one calls for it. In the end, it is Rajpoot who takes it but then dashes with the keeper.
* Ankit Rajpoot to bowl the last one.
23.27 IST: Mohammed Shami to Jofra Archer, OUT! Archer is out of here! Another top nut, a yorker and Archer fails to jam it out. He though is off for a single but Gowtham is not interested. The keeper has a shy at this end but misses. Shami though collects and since both the batters are stranded in the middle of the wicket, Shami has ample of time to jog towards the stumps at the keeper's end and whip the bails off. JA is the one who has to walk back though as they batters never crossed. Into the tail now are Punjab. RR 163/7 in 18.5 overs
23.24 IST: Mohammed Shami to Krishnappa Gowtham, Close! Gowtham powers it down towards long on and the batsmen take one. They go for the second. Archer is struggling but to his luck, Shami fails to collect the throw from Mayank.
* Jofra Archer is the new man in. Also, it is Mohammed Shami who is back into the attack.
23.23 IST: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Rahul Tripathi, OUT! Rajasthan have lost the plot completely! A full toss from Mujeeb, on middle, Tripathi this time tries to attempt what Stokes failed to do - clear long on. Fails miserably and is caught by Rahul in the deep.
* Krishnappa Gowtham walks out to bat.
23.21 IST: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Ben Stokes, SIX! This one goes rocketing over the cow corner. Flatter and fuller on off, Stokes kneels and launches it over the fence for a biggie.
* Rahul Tripathi is the new batsman. 35 needed off 18 balls. Mujeeb is back on as well.
23.17 IST: Sam Curran to Sanju Samson, OUT! Another one bites the dust! Two in the over and now Rajasthan have two new batsmen at the crease. Just what the visitors wanted and not what the hosts would have wanted. Another slower ball which is outside off. Samson looks to loft it over covers but the timing is not there. Like Smith he too gets a lot of height on it. Ashwin at covers backtracks and takes a very good catch. The game has once again turned. What an over by Curran to finish his spell, 4 runs and two wickets from it. He ends with figures of 4-0-52-2.
23.15 IST: Sam Curran to Steven Smith, OUT! In the air... taken! What a catch that is. They say catches win you matches and will this win it for Punjab? Smith who was really hitting the ball well is walking back. Curran who has not been at his best today is bowling a game-changing over here.
23.13 IST: Sam Curran to Steven Smith, NOT OUT! Neither, there is a bottom edge there. Punjab lose their only review. A yorker on the leg stump as Smith has shuffled across. He looks to flick but not sure if he has got an inside edge there. The ball then hits his pads and rolls towards fine leg. There is an appeal but the umpire shakes his head. In the meantime the batters run a single. Ashwin now takes a review. Replays show that there is an inside edge.
23.12 IST: Sam Curran to Steven Smith, Howzzat? The answer to that question is not out! What was the sound though. Full and outside off, Smith looks to carve it through the off side but misses. There is a noise as the ball passes the bat and hence an appeal. The umpire shakes his head. There is a discussion but they opt not to review. Replay shows that the sound was of the bat hitting the ground.
* Shout for an lbw this time!
23.09 IST: Mohammed Shami to Sanju Samson, SIX! Effortless! How easy was that? Extremely elegant. Makes room and Shami bowls it full. Samson just lofts it with ease over mid off and it goes all the way. A boundary early in the over, pressure now on Shami.
23.06 IST: Sam Curran to Steven Smith, SIX! What a shot that is! Right off the middle this one! On the pads, Smith is uses the depth of the crease and then flicks it over the square leg fence. 16 from the over now, a ball to go.
23.05 IST: Sam Curran to Steven Smith, WIDE NOW! Pressure, pressure getting the better of the bowler. This is down the leg side. Smith swings but misses. 10 runs from the over already and two balls still to go.
23.02 IST: Sam Curran to Steven Smith, FOUR! Much, much-needed boundary this! Excellent shot. Smith goes down on one knee and then sweeps it over mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep tries to stop it with a dive but his effort goes in vain.
* Sam Curran returns into the attack.
22.59 IST: Ankit Rajpoot to Steven Smith, Just the leg bye! Excellent bowling! The slower one and fuller in length on middle, Smith once again goes for the slog but misses as the ball hits his pads. The funny part here is Rajpoot appeals as he forgets it is a Free Hit. The batsmen take a leg bye as the ball rolls towards the leg side.
22.58 IST: Ankit Rajpoot to Steven Smith, NO BALL! Not good this from Rajpoot, especially when the pressure is building on Rajasthan, he oversteps. Also, a couple on this ball as this is flicked over the mid-wicket fielder. Free Hit coming up.
* Steve Smith is the new man in
22.54 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin to Sanju Samson, OUT Jos Buttler (W) run out (Ravichandran Ashwin). Jaipur have lost their second wicket.
* What happened there? An attempt to run the non-striker out? Mankading? Controversy here. Ashwin and Buttler are involved in some war of words. It has been referred upstairs... OUT! Buttler has to go. The replays show that while Ashwin is in his delivery stride, Buttler has left the crease. The Punjab skipper clips the bails and Jos is well short of the crease.
22.45 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin to Sanju Samson, In the air... but lands in no man's land! The carrom ball and Samson looks to whip it. It takes the top edge and lands towards mid on for a single.
22.43 IST: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sanju Samson, A delivery once again on the shorter side, Samson uses his wrists and works it to deep mid-wicket. He scampers back for the second run and a direct hit from the deep would have caught Samson short.
* Mujeeb Ur Rahman is back on.
22.40 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin to Jos Buttler, BEATEN! The carrom ball outside off, it skids through. Buttler looks to put bat on ball but misses.
22.38 IST: Ankit Rajpoot to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Too easy this for Buttler. Just the one man out on the off side so he targets that area. Makes room and then lofts it over cover for consecutive boundaries. Toying with the bowler is the opener.
22.36 IST: Ankit Rajpoot to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Once again the scoop and once again a boundary. This time though he was helped by the bowler as he bowls it on the leg stump. Buttler just helps it on its way. Runs needed below 100 now.
* Sanju Samson is the new batsman.
22.32 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin to Ajinkya Rahane, OUT! Sound of timber! Ashwin hunts down Rahane! It's a well-disguised carrom ball from Ash. He lands it around off and Ajinkya tries to play it from the back foot. His attempt to play at it late and run it probably down to third man fails and the off stump takes a beating. Punjab finally have a breakthrough but they need a few more in quick time. 107 needed off 71 balls.
22.30 IST: Ankit Rajpoot to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Just over! Spoils the over, still a good one though as only 7 comes off it. Buttler brings up his half ton. Another top knock from him. he has taken the attack to the bowlers right from the word go. The job is yet not done though. The slower ball and it is fuller in length. Buttler hits it over mid off and a boundary results.
* Ankit Rajpoot is on attack now.
22.24 IST: Ravichandran Ashwin to Jos Buttler, Good running! Buttler gently pushes it towards covers. The fielder there dives and deflects it away from long off which enables the batsmen to take two. RR 67/0 in 6.2 Overs
* Ravichandran Ashwin brings himself into the attack.
* Time out! A contrasting Powerplay for Rajasthan. They have got a quickfire beginning to their run chase and Jos Buttler, in particular, is looking in dangerous mood. 121 needed off 84 balls and the kind of start the home team has got, it should be easy from hereon. Having said that, let's see how Punjab's spinners perform in the middle overs. If they get some purchase, then it might get interesting. For the moment, it's Rajasthan in the driver's seat.
10.19 IST: FOUR! Boundary to end! 19 from the 6th and Rajasthan have bossed the Powerplay. They are 64 for 0 after it. A slap here. It is a length ball on off, Buttler stands tall and slaps it through covers. The ball races away to the fence.
10.19 IST: Sam Curran to Jos Buttler, FOUR!Curran is not sure where to bowl. Can't blame him as Buttler is in some mood. Curran goes very wide but it is a full toss. Buttler reaches out for it, gets bat to ball and it goes to the third man fence.
10.18 IST: Sam Curran to Jos Buttler, SIX!That is power, a brute of a shot that. Short and on the body, Buttler just flat-bats it straight down the ground and it just about carries over the fence.
10.16 IST: FOUR! 50 up, the perfect start for the hosts chasing a big total. Poor bowling this, width on offer outside off, Buttler throws his bat at it, clears the point fielder and a boundary.
*Sam Curran is back on for KXIP
22.12 IST: FOUR! Just helps it on its way! Short and on the body, Rahane just uses the pace and pulls it through backward square leg for a boundary.
22.10 IST: SIX! Effortless! Buttler was struggling to find the gap in the cover region so he decides to go the aerial route. A flatter and shorter ball on off, quicker through the air, Jos keeps his weight on the back leg and rockets it over wide mid off for a biggie.
22.09 IST: FOUR! Boom! Flighted delivery landing full outside off, Buttler hangs on the back foot and drills it down through mid off for a cracking boundary. Rahul in the deep tries his best but fails to make a clean stop.
22.05 IST: FOUR! Innovation at its best! Probably the best at playing that shot. At the very end he shuffles across. Shami bowls it on middle, Buttler scoops it over short fine leg for a boundary. This is turning out to be another expensive over.
22.04 IST: FOUR! UPPISH BUT FOUR! Slightly fuller and on off, Buttler leans into it and drives it. It is uppish but wide of mid off. Races away. The wicket seems to have gotten slightly better to bat on.
22.03 IST:Mohammed Shami will replace Curran into the attack.
22.00 IST: FOUR! A boundary to begin Mujeeb's over as well. Four boundaries in the first 7 balls. Down the leg side, Buttler flicks it fine. The fielder at short fine leg tries to stop it with a dive but fails to do so.
22.00 IST: Mujeeb will share the new ball with Curan.
21.58 IST: FOUR! Three boundaries in the over! What a start for the hosts. Another exquisite shot. This is just behind a fuller length. Rahane leans into it and times it past the diving mid off fielder.
21.58 IST: FOUR! Takes the aerial route this time and gets the desired result. There is width on offer again and Rahane pounces on it. He lofts it over covers and the ball goes for a one bounce boundary.
21.46 IST: FOUR! Crisp! Beautiful! A top shot to get off the mark. Slightly fuller this time and on off, Rahane just takes a few steps ahead and then creams it through mid off. Rajasthan are underway in style.
21.54 IST: We are back and Sam Curran has the ball for Punjab while Ajinkya Rahane and Jos Buttler are out for Rajasthan.
21.52 IST: Rajasthan tried pulling things back post the departure of Chris Gayle and succeeded for a brief period as well. But Sarfaraz Khan played a good hand in his first outing for Punjab and contributed vital runs to the total. It was on and off bowling show from the home team. Jofra Archer stood out with exceptional figures while Ben Stokes picked up a couple of expensive wickets. The pitch appeared two-paced at the start but the way Gayle batted, it looked like good for stroke making. Let's find out how Rajasthan reply. Do join us in a short while.
21.48 IST: 29 in the last two overs and Punjab have ended their innings on a high! They were losing the plot at the death but have done well to post a very challenging total on the board. It was a quiet Powerplay for them as Rajasthan started superbly with the ball. After that Mayank Agarwal and Chris Gayle steadied things with a stand but the real impetus was provided by the quickfire partnership between the Jamaican giant and Sarfaraz Khan
* 29 in the last two overs and Punjab have ended their innings on a high!
21.41 IST: Ben Stokes to Sarfaraz Khan, SIX! Ends the innings with the bang! 17 from the last over. The slower ball and it is on middle, Sarfaraz this waits for it and then tonks it over the mid-wicket fence. PUNJAB END WITH 184!
21.40 IST: Ben Stokes to Mandeep Singh, Make that 5 needed now from 2 for 180. This is very full and outside off. Mandeep hits it towards wide long off and takes two.
21.39 IST: Ben Stokes to Sarfaraz Khan, FOUR! How good was that? Brilliant innovation! Goes down on one knee and Stokes bowls it short. Sarfaraz ramps it over the keeper for a one bounce boundary in the third man region.
21.38 IST: Five balls to go. Mandeep Singh is the new batsman but he will be at the non-striker's end as the batsmen crossed.
* Five balls to go.
21.35 IST: Ben Stokes to Nicholas Pooran, OUT! Pooran departs! The slower one and it is outside off, Pooran reaches out for it and looks to hit it downtown. It is off the bottom part and Rahane at long off runs in and takes it. Ideal start to the last over for the hosts.
* Ben Stokes to bowl the last over.
21.32 IST: Jaydev Unadkat to Sarfaraz Khan, FOUR! Second boundary in the over, a fortunate one. Full and outside off, Sarfaraz swings but it goes off the outside edge, over point and into the fence.
21.29 IST: Jaydev Unadkat to Nicholas Pooran, FOUR! This time misses the yorker by just and pays the price. Full and outside off, Pooran lofts it over covers and a boundary results.
* Jaydev Unadkat to bowl the 19th.
21.27 IST: Jofra Archer to Nicholas Pooran, Digs in a short ball from 'round the wicket, following the batsman down the leg side, Pooran leaves it thinking that it's too high. Nothing from the square leg umpire.
21.25 IST: Jofra Archer to Nicholas Pooran, Fine stop, Unadkat. A full ball on the pads, Pooran flicks it fine towards short fine leg where Jaydev dives and saves a certain boundary. Just a run taken.
* Jofra Archer is back on.
21.24 IST: Shreyas Gopal to Sarfaraz Khan, A dot to end! Excellent over by Gopal! He bowls the quicker one outside off, Sarfaraz looks to cut but mistimes it to point.
* The physio comes out. Khan is seen having a sip of water. He seems fine now.
21.20 IST: Shreyas Gopal to Sarfaraz Khan, Slightly shorter in length, Khan first looks to sweep but then seeing the length he pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for a run.
* Shreyas Gopal to bowl.
21.18 IST: Ben Stokes to Nicholas Pooran, Angles this one into the batsman, Pooran looks to flick but it goes off the pads and towards mid-wicket. The batsmen take a leg bye. 20 from the over but the big wicket of Chris Gayle.
* Time out! Rajasthan will be relieved to see the back of Chris Gayle and would like to build on that. They would hope to bowl well at the death. Punjab still have a few power-hitters in their ranks and still will be aiming for something close to 200.
21.16 IST: Ben Stokes to Chris Gayle, OUT! Gayle holes out! He can't believe it as he had absolutely smoked that. Another excellent catch there. This time it is Rahul Tripathi. Stokes is the one who has the last laugh. Stokes changes his length and bangs it short. Gayle though smashes it right off the middle but it is flat towards deep mid-wicket. Rahul there keeps an eye on the rope behind and then takes it reverse cup. KXIP 144/3 in 15.5 Overs
21.13 IST: Ben Stokes to Chris Gayle, FOUR! This is carnage here! Yes, this is off the edge but Punjab won't care. Full and wide outside off. Gayle swings but it goes off the outside edge. Over point and into the fence.
21.12 IST: Ben Stokes to Chris Gayle, FOUR BYES! Keeps getting better for Punjab! A good delivery. A yorker on the pads. Gayle looks to move his legs out of the way and flick. It misses everything. Goes under the gloves of Buttler and into the fine leg fence.
21.11 IST: Ben Stokes to Chris Gayle, SIX! High and handsome! Welcome back into the attack Stokes. Full and on off, Gayle clears the front leg and lofts it over the long off fielder. Ideal start to the over this!
21.10 IST: Dhawal Kulkarni to Sarfaraz Khan, FOUR! Struck ferociously! Short in length and around off, Sarfaraz waits for it on the back foot and hammer-pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary. Spoils a good over. Kulkarni bowls out, 4-0-30-1!
21.08 IST: Dhawal Kulkarni to Sarfaraz Khan, Slower one from Kulkarni, on a length, Sarfaraz reaches out for it and drags it off the inner half to mid-wicket. Another run in the over.
* Dhawal Kulkarni is back into the attack.
21.04 IST: Jofra Archer to Chris Gayle, SIX! That is why you should not do something fancy when Gayle is at the other end and just give the strike over to him. Especially when he is hitting them so well. The slower ball and Gayle latches onto it quickly. He hits it over the long on fence.
* Jofra Archer is brought back into the attack. Rajasthan desperately want the wicket of Chris Gayle and have given the ball to their best bowler.
21.01 IST: Krishnappa Gowtham to Sarfaraz Khan, FOUR! Another over in which consecutive boundaries are scored. This is surely easing the pressure of Gayle too. Excellent sweep shot. It is in the gap in the mid-wicket region. KXIP 103/2 in 12.3 Overs
21.00 IST: Krishnappa Gowtham to Sarfaraz Khan, FOUR! Khan now gets into the act! What a shot! This is tossed up outside off. Sarfaraz leans into it and then caresses it through the off side for a boundary.
* Krishnappa Gowtham to bowl his last over.
21.00 IST: Jaydev Unadkat to Chris Gayle, SIX! 4,4,4,6! 18 from the first 4 balls and Gayle brings up his 50 in style. A top innings on a low and slow wicket. Needs to stay there though. Once again this is right in the arc. Full and on middle, Gayle just lofts it over the bowler's head and it carries all the way.
20.59 IST: Jaydev Unadkat to Chris Gayle, FOUR! Three boundaries in a row! He has picked the gap to perfection. This is angled into the body of Gayle. He goes back and whips it between long on and deep mid-wicket.
20.57 IST: Jaydev Unadkat to Chris Gayle, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries! Poor bowling to be honest. You bring your third man up and then bowl it short and wide outside off. Easy pickings. Gayle waits for it and then cuts it through point for a boundary.
20.53 IST: Jaydev Unadkat to Chris Gayle, FOUR! Gayle has picked the bones out of that one. It is the slower one and Gayle picks it quickly. He smashes it past the bowler and into the fence.
* Jaydev Unadkat is back on.
20.50 IST: Ben Stokes to Chris Gayle, Almost a stunner! FOUR! Stokes switches to 'round the wicket and slants in a shortish ball on leg, Gayle turns and pulls it in front of square leg. Samson in the deep puts in a valiant diving effort but fails to reach it.
* Ben Stokes is back on.
20.49 IST: Dhawal Kulkarni to Sarfaraz Khan, FOUR! Spoils what was a top over till now! Smart batting this from Khan. He clears his front leg and Dhawal bowls it short. He knows third man is fine so upper cuts it to that fielder's right and the ball trickles over the boundary. KXIP 68/2 in 10 Overs
20.47 IST: Dhawal Kulkarni to Chris Gayle, Slower ball but it is a little too wide. Gayle lets it be and the umpire stretches his arms sideways. Tight call that.
* Dhawal Kulkarni is the new man in.
* The first Time Out has been signaled! Rajasthan are just about ahead at the moment. Punjab though have done decently after they lost Rahul early, courtesy a 50-run plus stand between Gayle and Agarwal. The latter has just been dismissed but Punjab can hope Gayle can bat longer. Rajasthan on the other hand will look for a couple more quickly. In the meantime, Sarfraz Khan comes out to bat. KXIP 60/2 in 8.5 Overs
20.40 IST: Krishnappa Gowtham to Mayank Agarwal, OUT! A well-judged catch by Dhawal Kulkarni. Terrific effort! Gowtham strikes this time. He continues to fire it in and bowls it full around off at 94.5 kph. Mayank tries to go downtown and clear long off but fails to get enough distance. Kulkarni at the edge of the rope in the deep does well to grab it.
20.37 IST: Krishnappa Gowtham to Chris Gayle, SIX! Gayle getting into the act now! A flatter delivery, landing full and skidding into the left-hander, Gayle kneels and smokes it deep into the stand at mid-wicket. 50-run stand comes up! KXIP 56/1 in 8.1 Overs
20.36 IST: Jaydev Unadkat to Mayank Agarwal, SIX! Top shot! Second maximum of the game and both have come off the bat of Agarwal. Also, the 50 is up and this is turning out to be a top over for Punjab. Length and around off, Agarwal spots that mid off is in the ring. He lofts it over that fielder. The timing is such that it carries all the way.
20.34 IST: Jaydev Unadkat to Chris Gayle, Fortunate runs! Good bowling that! The cutter on off. Gayle gets into position to hit it but is done in by the lack of pace. In the end he looks to work it around the corner but the ball goes off the top edge, over the keeper for a couple.
20.32 IST: Jaydev Unadkat to Chris Gayle, FOUR. Finesse! Unadkat starts off with a seam-up delivery and it is outside off. Gayle plays it late and guides it fine on the off side. Not sure he wanted to get it that fine but he won't care as it races to the fence. Much-needed.
* Jaydev Unadkat is into the attack now.
20.27 IST: Jofra Archer to Mayank Agarwal, Brilliant bowling this! Changing his length on almost every delivery. This one is short and outside off. Mayank looks to cut but is beaten. KXIP 32/1 in 5.4 Overs
20.21 IST: Ben Stokes to Mayank Agarwal, Nearly a catch! Great change in pace from Ben. He bowls a full length ball around off at 113.5 kph, it's angled in and Agarwal is early into his attempted flick shot. Ends up chipping it towards mid on and the fielder there fails to reach in time. He ran a bit around it rather than going for it straightaway. They pick up a single.
* Ben Stokes into the attack now.
20.20 IST: Ben Stokes to Mayank Agarwal, FOUR! Stokes is greeted with a boundary! He provides width to the batsman and Agarwal smashes it square of the wicket on the off side for a cracking boundary. He is a quality batsman and has been in amazing form.
20.18 IST: Jofra Archer to Mayank Agarwal, It is short but does not bounce as much as Archer wanted it to. Mayank defends it onto the ground. 5 dots now, a maiden?
* Third man comes into the circle. Fine leg goes back. Time for a short ball?
20.17 IST: Jofra Archer to Mayank Agarwal, Mix-up but safe! Agarwal strokes it wide of mid off and he is off. Gayle though is not interested and he sends him back. Agarwal turns and makes it back in with ease. There was a run available there but Gayle thinks different.
* Jofra Archer is on now.
20.12 IST: Dhawal Kulkarni to Chris Gayle, FOUR! First boundary from Gayle's bat! He once again reaches out for a length ball outside off and this time crunches his drive through the gap at cover-point. KXIP 18/1 in 2.4 Overs
* Dhawal Kulkarni to Chris Gayle, Fuller in length and around leg, Gayle tries to flick but misses. He is hit on the pads, a stifled appeal from Kulkarni follows but nothing from the umpire. Easily going down.
20.08 IST: Krishnappa Gowtham to Mayank Agarwal, SIX! All the way! First of the game! Gowtham this time is guilty of bowling it too full. Agarwal reaches out for it and just lofts it over the long off fence.
* Krishnappa Gowtham to bowl from the other end.
20.06 IST: Dhawal Kulkarni to Mayank Agarwal, Down the leg side and Agarwal goes for the flick but misses. It has been given wide.
* Mayank Agarwal is the new batsman.
20.04 IST: Dhawal Kulkarni to Lokesh Rahul, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! What a catch that from Buttler and this is a body blow for the visitors. Kulkarni sticks to the line outside off, it is once again on a length. Rahul this time is drawn into the stroke. However, it is only a tentative poke. The ball takes the outside edge and goes low towards the right of Buttler who dives and takes it with one hand. That just just about sticks in the webbing. Rajasthan are pumped up, just the start they would have wanted. KXIP 4/1 in 0.4 Over
20.02 IST: Dhawal Kulkarni to Lokesh Rahul, FOUR! Off the mark in style! What a shot that was! Not a bad delivery that. Full and around off, Rahul leans into the stroke and just pushes it through covers. It is in the gap and you need not run for those.
* We are all set to get underway! The Rajasthan players make their way out to the middle. They are followed by the Punjab openers, the powerful Chris Gayle and the classy KL Rahul. The right-hander will be on strike and he will be facing Dhawal Kulkarni who has the new ball in hand. He will look for some swing. Will he get some? We will know as he runs in...
19.48 IST: Rajasthan skipper, Ajinkya Rahane says it looks a pretty good wicket and he wants to bowl first. Mentions the conditions suit them well and hence, they have a good record at home. Further adds he wants to start well. Informs Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Steven Smith and Jofra Archer are the four foreigners.
19.43 IST: Playing XI or both camps are out
19.35 IST: Punjab skipper, Ravichandran Ashwin says that they would have bowled first as well but feels that the pitch won't change much. Adds that they don't have any baggage of the past, it's a new team and they are hopeful of a positive start. Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Sam Curran and Mujeeb Ur Rahman are the overseas players for Punjab, informs Ashwin.
19.31 IST: Rajasthan Royals win the toss and opt to field first against Kings XI Punjab in Jaipur.
19.21 IST: PITCH REPORT: Michael Clarke says the pitch is kind of two-faced but it will be good for batting.
19.13 IST: What to expect and Probable Playing XI's of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab
Rajasthan Royals take on the Kings XI Punjab. While both teams will be looking to secure a win, both teams also have a pretty balanced side and there have always been nail-biting thrillers at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. [Read more]
18.56 IST: Not taking KXIP's Chris Gayle lightly, says RR captain Ajinkya Rahane
As Rajasthan Royals (RR) are set to take on Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Monday, they consider Chris Gayle as a dangerous player and hope to devise new strategies on ground, depending on the play of the rival team. "Rajasthan Royals is not going to take the Kings XI lightly. Gayle is a dangerous player. Also, it's not only about him, but the 11 players who represent the team. We are not going to take them or any of their players lightly," Rajasthan skipper Ajinkya Rahane said. (READ FULL STORY)
18.50 IST: Sawai Mansingh Stadium is ready to host the battle between Royals and Kings.
18.30 IST: We're an hour away from the toss! It's the battle of Pinks vs Red!
FACT: Punjab have NOT won a match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur in their last 5 encounters! Can that change today?
Hello and welcome to our live blog of the IPL as Rajasthan Royals take on Kings XI Punjab live from the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The TOSS will take place at 7.30 PM IST, whereas play will commence from 8.00 PM IST.
Brief Preview: Boosted by the return of Steve Smith, Rajasthan Royals (RR) will take on Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) opener at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Monday. The Royals, which made a comeback to the league in 2018 after serving a two-year ban over spot-fixing and betting charges, had advanced to the play-offs last season but could not go further. The Ajinkya Rahane-led side will definitely aim to start the season 12 on a positive note. (Read Full Report Here)
