KXIP vs KKR: Match preview, head-to-head records and pitch report
Kings XI Punjab welcome Kolkata Knight Riders at home in match number 51 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019. The R Ashwin-led side is in a must-win scenario just like KKR. Both teams need a victory to stay alive and fight for a berth in the playoffs. Here is the detailed match preview.
Head-to-head meetings between the two sides
These two teams have met each other 24 times in the past. KKR have won 16 games, while Kings XI have sealed eight victories. In the previous meeting this season, KKR won by 28 runs at the Eden Gardens.
KKR will hope to lay a platform for Andre Russell
KKR need to score runs to keep themselves in the game. Their bowling hasn't done well as an unit this season. So the onus lies on batting. KKR will look up to the top order and would hope to see the batsmen lay a foundation for someone like an Andre Russell to come in and exploit. He has been terrific this season.
Karthik will need his bowlers to stand up
Dinesh Karthik will look to field the same bowling line-up that played against Mumbai in the previous encounter. He might be tempted to drop an extra batsman and include a bowler. We might see Prasidh Krishna return to the team and replace Robin Uthappa.
KXIP's top order can make the difference
KXIP have lost three successive matches and will need to break the jinx. A lot depends on the top three batsmen. Chris Gayle will hope to fire his side with some fancied shot-making upfront. KL Rahul can take up the mantle of staying as long as possible. Mayank Agarwal will look to carry on with the momentum. The middle order is an issue though.
Shami and Ashwin will need support from the other bowlers
R Ashwin and Mohammed Shami have been the go to men for KXIP in bowling. The two senior cricketers will hold the key once again for the side. They will need support from the rest of the star cast.
Pitch report, timing and TV listing
The pitch in Mohali will support batting. Anything in excess of 180 will be a decent total. The bowlers will need to stick to their plans and try to extract the maximum. The match is scheduled for 8:00 PM start. One can watch the match live on the Star Sports Network and can stream the same on Hotstar app.
