Key Baneya
- Kings XI Punjab lost to Mumbai Indians by 6 wickets in their first game at Indore.
- This was the Kings’ first home loss this season after a successful campaign at Mohali.
- Chris Gayle scored a valiant half century and was the highest scorer for the Kings.
Photo credit: BCCI/IPLT20.comKings XI Punjab were handed their first home defeat by Mumbai Indians at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Friday as the hosts went down by 6 wickets. Mumbai Indians kept a steady head throughout the match to first restrict the Kings to a less than ideal target and then chased it down without too many hiccups. 🏏 SCORECARD
Being put in to bat first, Kings XI got off to another great start courtesy their two opening stalwarts Lokesh Rahul and Chris Gayle. They reached yet another 50-run partnership, their 5th consecutive one in the VIVO Indian Premier League. In the process, Rahul went past a personal milestone of a thousand IPL runs as well. 📷 PHOTOS
| Sadda Sher |
| Chris Gayle was in scintillating touch once again and took on the bowling after a slow start on the way to yet another half century in the Kings’ threads. |
The introduction of leg-spinner Mayank Markande gave Mumbai their first success as Rahul holed out to deep midwicket. Gayle, however, kept going at the other end and brought up his 50, which consisted of 4 fours and 2 sixes.
| Turning Point |
| After getting a good start from their two openers, the Kings needed to get going and post a big score but some extremely disciplined line and length bowling by Jasprit Bumrah, who finished with figures of 1/19, kept the score below par. |
Karun Nair dug the anchor at one end and played a good cameo for 23 at a strike rate of above 190 but couldn’t finish it off for the Kings. It took a late surge from Marcus Stoinis, who took 22 runs off the last over, to take KXIP to 174 runs with the loss of 6 wickets.
Mumbai Indians put in a steady chase led by the in-form Suryakumar Yadav, who scored another half century and made sure that his team was on top of the chase for a major part of the second innings.
| Unha-da Sher |
| Suryakumar Yadav continued his fine form in the current edition of the IPL, stroking a 42-ball 57, off which 42 runs came in boundaries. |
His dismissal brought some hope for the Kings but Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya ensured that wickets didn’t fall in a heap before Rohit Sharma and Krunal Pandya took the team over the line with some big hits.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman picked up 2 wickets for 37 and captain Ravichandran Ashwin bowled an economical spell, giving just 23 runs off his 4 overs. But their efforts were too little too late and the Kings lost their first game at their Indore home venue by 6 wickets.
Key Chalda Hai?
Kings XI Punjab remain in the fourth spot in the leaderboard after this loss but will look to improve their ranking as they take on Rajasthan Royals on Sunday, 6th May in their second home game at Indore.
