IPL 2020: 3 Mistakes committed by the losing side in CSK vs KXIP game

Kings XI Punjab have been eliminated from IPL 2020 with their comprehensive nine-wicket loss against CSK in Abu Dhabi. They strengthened their batting by adding an extra batsman to their lineup but couldn’t score big runs.

Though they started with a flyer and scored at a rapid rate in the powerplay, CSK’s phenomenal bowling restricted them for 153. Defending a below-par total was not an easy task and CSK batted brilliantly to chase the total down quite comfortably.

Ruturaj Gaikwad was the protagonist for CSK as he scored an outstanding unbeaten fifty to take his team home. As KXIP ended with 12 points, they became the second team to get eliminated from the tournament.

Here are the three mistakes committed by KXIP against CSK:-

1. Sending Nicholas Pooran above Mandeep Singh

Nicholas Pooran is a power hitter and he has been effective in his role of a finisher. However as KXIP lost their openers early, they needed someone to play the role of an anchor. Thus, sending Mandeep Singh would have made things easier for KXIP.

Mandeep can take singles and doubles to keep the scoreboard moving. A pair of Mandeep and Chris Gayle would have also provided them left-right combination in the middle and Pooran could have come later to finish the innings on a high.

2. KL Rahul not batting at a rapid rate

KL Rahul has donned the role of an anchor this season after becoming the captain. However, his slow scoring rate has hurt KXIP in several games as they have finished with 20 runs less than what they should have.

Against CSK, Rahul had an even better chance to break free as KXIP had played an extra batsman and that provided them with a cushion. However, he again scored with a strike rate of 107 and that led to a collapse because of pressure on others.

3. KXIP’s bowling lacked an attacking approach

KXIP were defending mere 153 runs and they needed to pick early wickets to put CSK under pressure. They should have gone with their strike bowlers to attack in the beginning but that didn’t happen.

Jimmy Neesham, their batting all-rounder opened the attack and CSK openers got time to settle. If they would have started with Mohammed Shami and Chris Jordan, KXIP would have had a better chance to defend it.