IPL 10, Match 55, RPS v KXIP: Kings XI Punjab Predicted XI

It will be the last day of the league stage of the IPL and Rising Pune Supergiant will host Kings XI Punjab at the MCA Stadium in Pune. The game will be a crunch one as both teams have chances of making it to the playoffs. RPS currently occupy the fourth spot on the points table with 16 points whereas KXIP are positioned on the fifth with 14 points. A win for RPS will certify them a final four spot whereas a win for KXIP will take them to 16 points and level with RPS. But what will work in the favor of KXIP is the net run rate. They are currently at +0.296 as opposed to -0.083 of RPS and it will only get better if they win and guarantee a playoff spot.

The Punjab side got off to a good start this season when they won 3 consecutive matches but lost the plot and suffered 3 losses on the trot. Since then, it has been a mixed bag for them and they have been inconsistent but somehow managed to stay in the hunt. They have kept the hopes alive after winning 4 of the last 5 matches and the last league match against RPS is a virtual knockout for them as a victory will take them to the next round and a defeat will put curtains to their campaign in the league.

In the last 2 games, they defeated the top 2 sides of the league. First, they got the better of Kolkata Knight Riders at home and then overpowered Mumbai Indians in their own backyard. The fighting spirit they have shown to keep their campaign alive is commendable and once again, we can expect them to go hard in the last league game.

Here’s CricTracker’s predicted XI for Kings XI Punjab for their clash against Rising Pune Supergiant:

Openers (Martin Guptill and Wriddhiman Saha)

Their regular opener Hashim Amla who had done so well for them has made his way back to South Africa for the international duties. He was so instrumental for them up the order but in his absence, Guptill has occupied the place. He has gotten off to starts on a couple of occasions but failed to make a big score so far. In the last game, he made 36 off 18 balls that provided the momentum at the start and now the onus would be on him to add to his tally of scores.

The KXIP team made a surprise move by sending Saha to open the innings and pushed Manan Vohra down the order. The move paid rich dividends and he scored an unbeaten 93 off 55 balls that propelled the score to a massive 230/3 which was necessary against the strong batting line-up of Mumbai Indians. He was not getting to contribute a lot, batting in the middle order and owing to his previous match-winning knock, he might be trusted to open again.

Middle-Order (Manan Vohra, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis)

Vohra who was opening the batting regularly didn’t get the chance to bat in the last game. After a quickfire start provided by the openers, Glenn Maxwell came out to bat at number 3. Perhaps the move was influenced by the explosive start and Vohra might bat at number 3 in the game against RPS in the case of an early wicket. He has shown good form so far in the league and would be crucial once again.

Shaun Marsh too has done well so far and would be expected to bat at number 4 or 5 depending on the situation of the innings. Maxwell played an important knock of 47 off 21 balls that carried the momentum forward after the initial explosions. His form will be extremely vital for KXIP’s chances of qualifying for the playoffs. There could be a change in the XI as Matt Henry went for plenty in the last 2 games and the all-rounder Marcus Stoinis might be slotted in that gives them extra batting option along with his bowling.

Bowlers (Axar Patel, Rahul Tewatia, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Sharma and T Natarajan)

Axar Patel has been their most valuable player so far as he has contributed with both and bowl. He has been economical with the ball and has played useful cameos batting in the lower middle order. The pacer Mohit Sharma although went for 57 runs in the last game but bowled a terrific last over with accurate yorkers and kept his cool against Kieron Pollard that gave the side an important victory.

Sandeep Sharma also has been a key bowler for them this season and also in the years gone by. His abilities to swing the new ball and bowl yorkers at the death make him a useful T20 bowler. Ishant Sharma had a poor time in the last game and in all the games he played so far and couldn’t account for a single wicket. He might be replaced by the left-handed fast bowler T Natarajan.