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It’s a mid-table clash, but a highly successful clash. A battle for fourth place couldn’t have been more intriguing. The Kings XI Punjab were at the bottom of the list just 10 days ago. Suddenly, here they are now, having won four games in a row and looking for a fifth to lead them into playoff contention.
Kings XI got out of jail, once again, against Sunrisers Hyderabad; his death bowling comes in handy to defend 20 of the last three overs. The last 14 balls produced six wickets and an epic choke that kept them alive.
One reason for his improvement in death-overs bowling is 20-year-old Arshdeep Singh. He has flown under the radar and is not talked about like some of his other U-19 India batch mates from the 2018 victorious campaign, but Arshdeep’s tough lengths, cutters on the field and use of the fold and the angles have allowed him to more than make up for his lack of rhythm. It has also helped make up for Chris Jordan’s days off.
Additionally, the threat that Ravi Bishnoi and M Ashwin bring to the table has complemented a hitting lineup capable of destroying any attack. However, they will want to start winning much earlier and not always take it to the final.
The Knight Riders’ victory on Saturday can be somewhat equated in a tennis context to being 4-0 down in the fourth set, after taking a 2-1 lead, in the third round of a Grand Slam. They were down at 42 for 3 right after the power play, but Nitish Rana and Sunil Narine sensationally threw them to a gigantic score.
The racing confidence also manifested itself with the ball as Narine, bowling with half sleeves, was that a statement? – delivered a revealing spell in the middle to choke Delhi Capitals for runs after Pat Cummins did initial damage and Varun Chakravarthy finished with a deserved five for the first time at IPL 2020.
So it’s a clash of two aggressive teams that will show off punches and kickbacks. Kings X I know they just have to win. Meanwhile, Knight Riders can get one step closer to the playoffs with a win. Even if they don’t, all is not lost, but they don’t want to be staring at the table when they can own their own destiny.
In the news
Mayank Agarwal, who missed Sunday’s game, is likely to return. Agarwal rested after bruising his body as he dived fully to avoid a race earlier in the week. Their inclusion could mean that one of Mandeep Singh or Deepak Hooda could be lost.
The Knight Riders are closely monitoring Andre Russell, whose hamstring has been problematic over the years. He has been training regularly and is working closely with the physical therapist. If they decide to play him a medium fit Russell might still be able to hit six grand in Sharjah, who do they leave out? Eoin Morgan is the captain. Narine just gave a revealing performance. Lockie Ferguson has made an immediate impact and Cummins is beginning to come to life. It is a really difficult decision.
Previous meeting
Kings XI needed 21 of 17, with nine wickets in hand. And then somehow they managed to turn it into a situation where two new hitters, literally; neither had faced a ball yet, he needed to hit 14 in the last over. Against Narine. They fell two short.
Probably XI
Kings XI Punjab: 1 KL Rahul (capt, wk), 2 Mayank Agarwal, 3 Chris Gayle, 4 Nicholas Pooran, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Mandeep Singh, 7 Chris Jordan, 8 M Ashwin, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Mohammed Shami
Horsemen of the Kolkata Knights: 1 Nitish Rana, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Rahul Tripathi, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6 Sunil Narine, 7 Pat Cummins, 8 Kamlesh Nagarkoti, 9 Varun Chakravarthy, 10 Prasidh Krishna, 11 Lockie Ferguson / Andre russell
Strategy points
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Gayle v Narine: 177 balls, 153 runs. Five layoffs. Hit rate of 86. It just confirms an established fact: Gayle doesn’t have the same strength against spin, at least initially, as she does against faster bowlers. That said, Sharjah is a small field where even the Mishits carry six. The Knight Riders have two bowlers of the mystery type. How about we look to finish the turns through Narine and Varun Chakravarthy while Gayle is around? You could at least put a time limit on the score or maybe take it out if you’re lucky.
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They have invested heavily in Shubman Gill. He’s even part of the leadership think tank, but sentiments aside, he’s had one of the worst strike rates (112) for a first game this season, slightly below Aaron Finch and Ben Stokes, among whom they have played more than five games. Maybe they could turn things around and seek to open with Tripathi with Rana.
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Despite his good form, Knight Riders should try to resist the urge to open up with Narine. The Kings XI have two legs and Narine is lethal against them, hitting 211 on the 54 balls he has played of this variety. So hold it for them spinners come.
Statistics that matter
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Kings XI’s death economy of 8.8 is the best among all teams in the second half of the 2020 IPL
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Maxwell has faced the second most deliveries (100) without hitting a six this season behind Ben Stokes, who went without hitting a six after facing 122 balls.
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Agarwal and Rahul’s 623 runs in 10 innings is the most a starting pair has achieved at IPL 2020. Will they meet for Monday’s game?
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