IPL 2018 Preview: Free-falling Kings XI Punjab take on Mumbai Indians in five-way race for two playoff spots

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Kings XI Punjab need to arrest their slide. Image - KXIP/Twitter.

    The 10-wicket thrashing handed out to Kings XI Punjab by Royal Challengers Bangalore on Tuesday has come as a hammer-blow for Ravichandran Ashwin’s men.

    A third consecutive defeat for franchise has caused a lot of damage. At one point, it looked like the Kings XI would sail into the playoffs after their strong first-half but Tuesday’s defeat has thrown the side into a five-way race for the last two playoff spots in the IPL.

    Punjab’s net-run rate took the bigger hit, which has seen the side slide down to fifth position in the IPL. This means the side need to win both their remaining matches.

    That defeat will be music to the ears of their opponents on Wednesday at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. Defending champions Mumbai Indians’ resurgence was brought to a halt by the Rajasthan Royals but such is their net run-rate compared to the other four teams in the playoff race that victories in their remaining two games should seal a place in the last-four.

    KINGS XI BATTING WOES

    All throughout the IPL, the Punjab franchise has been riding on the wave of KL Rahul’s excellent form with the bat. The opener’s showing along with some handy contributions from Chris Gayle have masked the non-show from the rest of the batsmen in the line-up including Karun Nair, Aaron Finch and Mayank Agarwal.

    This soft underbelly was exposed by Royal Challengers Bangalore when Rahul and Gayle fell early on Sunday as the side was bundled out for just 88 runs on a pitch where batsmen should have flourished. This chink in the armour will be definitely be targeted by their opponents on Wednesday. If the openers fail to fire, the rest of the batting line-up will be under extreme pressure.

    PRESSURE ON ROHIT

    Rohit Sharma has shown both the good and the bad, mostly the latter, when it comes to his batting in this year’s IPL. The Mumbai skipper has been dismissed for a golden duck three times this season and bar two knocks of 94 and 56 against Royal Challengers and Kings XI respectively, the India ODI vice-captain has flattered to deceive.

    The latest of his ducks came in the side’s defeat to Rajasthan Royals on Saturday and seeing his performances in the last few matches, the skipper is definitely due a big one on Wednesday.

    LIKELY LINE-UPS

    Mumbai Indians: Suryakumar Yadav, Evin Lewis, Rohit Sharma (c), JP Duminy, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Ben Cutting, Mitchell McClenaghan, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah

    Kings XI Punjab: KL Rahul (wk), Chris Gayle, Karun Nair, Aaron Finch, Mayank Agarwal, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin (c), Andrew Tye, Mohit Sharma, Ankit Rajpoot

    Recommended