Photo credit: BCCI/IPLT20.comKings XI Punjab could not have asked for a better start in the VIVO Indian Premier League as they have gathered 8 points out of a possible 10 from the 5 matches they have played so far. As they head to Feroz Shah Kotla to face Delhi Daredevils, KXIP will be looking to add another win to their kitty.
Aamne Saamne
Kings XI Punjab 12-9 Delhi Daredevils
Batting de Baadshah
| Chris Gayle for KXIP | Rishabh Pant for DD |
| 229 runs | 223 runs |
Age is no factor when it comes to putting up consistent good performances, and Chris Gayle is the living embodiment of this. Striking gold from the word go, Gayle has pulverised every bowling attack that has dared to come up against him, and is one of the leading contenders for the Orange Cap in just 3 matches with his 229 runs, which includes two half centuries and a century.
Another player in the running for the Orange Cap is the young Rishabh Pant from Delhi Daredevils who has impressed everyone with his aggressive and innovative brand of batting. Generally coming in at no. 3 or 4, Pant has played many-a-vital innings, and has proven why he was retained by the franchise in the first place.
Bowling de Kings
| Andrew Tye for KXIP | Trent Boult for DD |
| 7 wickets | 7 wickets |
Climbing his way up the list for the Purple Cap, Andrew Tye is showcasing his mettle as a specialist T20 bowler in KXIP threads. With a bunch of variations including the knuckle ball and cutters, Tye is one tough customer to deal with, especially in the death overs.
The strike bowler for DD, Trent Boult has put the best of batsmen at unease with his genuine pace and swing, especially at the start of the innings in the Powerplay. The angle he creates coming over the wicket and bowling with his left arm is just another added difficulty this Kiwi bowler creates.
Mudde ki Baat
With a record of 12 wins compared to 9 losses against DD, KXIP already has a statistical advantage going into the match. Add to it the fact that in terms of current form, KXIP is enjoying life in the top half of the table, while DD is languishing at the very bottom.
There appear to be no chinks in the KXIP armour at the moment, as the batting and bowling are both complementing each other well. In the batting, one need not look beyond the opening combination of Lokesh Rahul and Chris Gayle, and in the bowling, Andrew Tye has come into his own too, supported by Ravichandran Ashwin and the talented Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
Delhi Daredevils hasn’t been having the best of runs, winning just the one game in the league so far. While individual performances have been good, the team is yet to perform as a collective unit. Rishabh Pant and Trent Boult have been impressive on their own, but the lack of form for key players like Gautam Gambhir and Glenn Maxwell is a cause of concern.
Yaad Rakhiyo
- With 4/11, Amit Mishra has the best bowling figures in this tie
- With an economy rate of just 5.98, Ashwin is the most economical bowler against DD (minimum 10 matches)
- KL Rahul scored the fastest ever IPL fifty against DD in just 14 balls
Who could play?
KL Rahul (wk), Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, Aaron Finch, Yuvraj Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin (c), Andrew Tye, Mohit Sharma, Barinder Sran, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
After a match on the sidelines, Mohit Sharma could make his return to the side and add more experience to the attack. With the dry wickets at Delhi generally proving to be conducive to spin, Axar Patel could come back in if he is deemed match fit in time.
NOTE: The aforementioned line-up is an educated guess at best, and the final decision rests with the captain and the team management depending on various external factors.
