‘CAPITAL’ COMFORT BECKONS KINGS XI PUNJAB
DUBAI: The nail-biting win over holder Mumbai Indians was a morale-lifter, but the inconsistent Kings XI Punjab has another tough battle at hand when it takes on table-topper Delhi Capitals in an IPL 2020 match here on Tuesday.
Having lost two tight games that it should have won at the start of the season, KXIP managed to get on the right side of the results in the last couple of matches, although it was too close for comfort.
Needing seven runs off the last two overs with nine wickets in hand, Punjab should have wrapped up the game against Royal Challengers Bangalore much before the final ball. Even in the IPL’s first double ‘Super Over’ against Mumbai, the K L Rahul-led side could have closed it out in regulation time.
Death bowing and the form of Glenn Maxwell in a shaky middle-order are a concern for a team that needs to win its remaining five games to make the play-offs.
The fact that KXIP has struggled despite having the tournament’s top two run-getters in openers Rahul (525) and Mayank Agarwal (393) best sums up its erratic run.
On a positive note, the successful return of Chris Gayle has reduced the burden on the shoulders of the openers, especially allowing Rahul to play more freely.
Nicholas Pooran has shown his lethalness time and again, but is yet to play a match-winning knock. Delhi is clearly the team to beat in the tournament and has gained in confidence with a close win against Chennai Super Kings. While Prithvi Shaw needs to be back among the runs after a couple of ducks, his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan elevating his game bodes well for Delhi. Axar Patel has shown his utility not just with the ball but also with the bat.
The match went into a ‘Super Over’ the last time the two teams met and more than Delhi, Punjab would be hoping that it doesn’t come to the same stage again.