IPL 2018: Rajasthan Royals lead Kings XI Punjab 9-6 in eight IPL's

Rajasthan Royals (RR) were the most discussed name during the auction of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 as they made some big buys in their comeback season. But while Chennai Super Kings, the other team that returned from suspension this year, is sitting at the top of the points table, the Royals only slid as the tournament progressed and after losing their last two games, they found themselves at the bottom of the points table with 6 points from 8 matches. Ajinkya Rahane’s team will have to do some serious work to return to the contention for the top four slots and qualify for the playoffs.

RR will take on Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore in their next game on Sunday, May 6. The KXIP had a run of four consecutive wins but their last win came on April 23, almost a fortnight back while every team knows how important it is to maintain the momentum in a competition like the IPL. Ravichandran Ashwin’s side lost their last two games just like the Royals and will be equally keen to return to the winning ways. The Kings have 10 points from 8 matches at the moment.

RR and KXIP have met 15 times in the IPL with the Royals having a 9-6 lead. In their last game played in 2015, the Kings won the super over after the match ended in a tie.

Here is a flash of all their past results in the annual event between 2008 and 2015, the last time Rajasthan played the IPL before coming back this year:

2008

Game 1: RR won by 6 wickets at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

KXIP 166/8 in 20 overs; RR 168/4 in 18.1 overs. MoM Shane Watson (RR) 3 wickets for 19 runs and 76 not out off 49 balls,

Game 2: KXIP won by 41 runs at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali

KXIP 221/3 in 20 overs; RR 180/7 in 20 overs. MoM Shaun Marsh (KXIP) 115 runs off 69 balls.

2009

Game 1: KXIP won by 27 runs at Newlands, Cape Town

KXIP 139/6 in 20 overs; RR 112/7 in 20 overs. MoM Kumar Sangakkara (KXIP) 60 off 51 balls.

Game 2: RR won by 78 runs at Kingsmead, Durban

RR 211/4 in 20 overs; KXIP 133/8 in 20 overs. MoM Graeme Smith (RR) 77 off 44 balls.

2010

Game 1: RR won by 31 runs at PCA Stadium

RR 183/5 in 20 overs; KXIP 152 all out in 19.1 overs. MoM Adam Voges (RR) 45 runs off 24 balls.

Game 2: RR won by 9 wickets at Sawai Mansingh Stadium

KXIP 153/6 in 20 overs; RR 157/1 in 15 overs. MoM Michael Lumb (RR) 83 not out off 43 balls.

2011

Only game: KXIP won by 48 runs at PCA IS Bindra Stadium

KXIP 195/7 in 20 overs; RR 147/7 in 20 overs. MoM Shaun Marsh (KXIP) 71 off 42 balls.

2012

Game 1: RR won by 31 runs at Swai Mansingh Stadium

RR 191/4 in 20 overs; KXIP 160/9 in 20 overs. MoM Ajinkya Rahane (RR) 98 off 66 balls.

Game 2: RR won by 43 runs at PCA Stadium

RR 177/6 in 20 overs; KXIP 134/8 in 20 overs. MoM Shane Watson (RR) 36 off 17 and 2 wickets for 22 runs.

2013

Game 1: RR won by 6 wickets at Sawai Mansingh Stadium

KXIP 124 all out in 18.5 overs; RR 126/4 in 19.2 overs. MoM James Faulkner (RR) 2 wickets for 30 runs.

Game 2: RR won by 8 wickets at PCA Stadium

KXIP 145/6 in 20 overs; RR 147/2 in 19 overs. MoM Kevon Cooper (RR) 3 wickets for 23 runs.

2014

Game 1: KXIP won by 7 wickets at Sharjah Cricket Stadium

RR 191/5 in 20 overs; KXIP 193/3 in 18.4 overs. MoM Glenn Maxwell (KXIP) 89 off 43 balls.

Game 2: KXIP won by 16 runs at PCA Stadium

KXIP 179/4 in 20 overs; RR 163/8 in 20 overs. MoM Shaun Marsh (KXIP) 40 off 35 balls.

2015

Game 1: RR won by 26 runs at Maharashtra Cricket Association, Pune

RR 162/7 in 20 overs; KXIP 136/8 in 20 overs. MoM James Faulkner (RR) 3 wickets for 26 runs.

Game 2: KXIP won Super Over after the match ended in a tie at Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad

RR 191/6 in 20 overs; KXIP 191/6 in 20 overs. MoM Shaun Marsh (KXIP) 65 off 40 balls.

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