Kings XI Punjab meet Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday in a key game for the top-4 race in IPL 2020.
A rejuvenated Kings XI Punjab would aim to continue on their fantastic winning run when they take on the Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday -- a match which proves key for the top-4 race in IPL 2020. While the KKR are at fourth position with 12 points, the KXIP are only two points behind and will dethrone the Knight Riders with a win.
KXIP underwent a late revival as their batting order -- apart from KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal -- stepped up after five successive losses after seven games. In their previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, their bowling attack produced a remarkable performance to defend 127-run target, aiding KXIP to a 12-run win.
KKR, meanwhile, will be high on confidenced after securing a heavy 59-run victory over the high-flying Delhi Capitals in their last match. One of the biggest positives for the Knight Riders must be the performances from Nitish Rana and Sunil Narine with the bat - until that game, the side relied on Eoin Morgan's heroics more often than not.
KXIP had roared back to form, snapping their five match losing-streak with a win over third-placed Royal Challengers Bangalore. Since then the KL Rahul-led side has not looked back, defeating the top two sides in the tournament -- Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals -- besides Sunrisers Hyderbad.
However, they must also win their remaining matches for a shot at the playoffs.
KXIP's bowling has been their weakest link. Barring Mohammad Shami and Ravi Bishnoi, none of the bowlers have inspired confidence, especially in the death overs.
But when their batting unit failed to put runs on the board on Saturday, the KXIP bowlers produced an excellent display of death over bowling against Sunrisers Hyderabad. They defended 126 by taking five wickets in the final two overs to eke out an incredible win.
KXIP have the in-form batsmen in skipper Rahul, who is the leading run scorer of the tournament, and Mayank Agarwal. The presence of flamboyant Chris Gayle has inspired the team, and since his inclusion in the playing XI, the Punjab-based outfit has not lost a single game.
Nicholas Pooran, too, has looked dangerous but the shaky form of Glenn Maxwell remains a concern.
Agarwal missed the match against SRH due to a bruised knee but the opener is expected to be back for the clash against KKR.
KKR will also be all fired up after their comprehensive win over the formidable Delhi Capitals and would be desperate to keep the winning momentum going.
After the embarrassing eight-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore, the two-time champions did well to regroup and inflict a 59-run defeat on the Capitals, who occupy the second spot in the points table.
Promoted to open the innings, Nitish Rana revelled in his new role and smashed a whirlwind 81 while sharing a game-changing 115-run stand with Sunil Narine (64).
Leg- spinner Varun Chakravarthy then tore apart the DC middle-order with a five-wicket haul.
If KKR wish to seal a play-off spot, their batsmen need to step up, shrug off their inconsistency and win matches for the team. Barring Rana (81) and Narine (64), everyone else failed against DC.
The KKR bowlers have done well to fashion victories and the addition of Lockie Fergusen has only strengthened the pace attack, which also includes Australian Pat Cummins.
Teams (from):
Kolkata Knight Riders: Eoin Morgan (c), Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Andre Russell, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Pat Cummins, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Tom Banton, Siddhesh Lad, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Prasidh Krishna, Sandeep Warrior, Shivam Mavi, Rinku Singh, Chris Green, M Siddharth and Nikhil Naik.
Kings XI Punjab: KL Rahul (C), Harpreet Brar, Ishan Porel, Mandeep Singh, James Neesham, Tajinder Singh, Chris Jordan, Karun Nair, Deepak Hooda, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sarfaraz Khan, Sheldon Cottrell, Mayank Agarwal, Mohammed Shami, Darshan Nalkande, Nicholas Pooran, Chris Gayle, Murugan Ashwin, Jagadeesha Suchith, Krishnappa Gowtham, Hardus Viljoen, Simran Singh.
