KXIP vs KKR Match Prediction: The Sportsrush presents before you the Match Prediction of 52nd match of IPL 2019.
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With the Kings XI Punjab and KKR finding themselves in a precarious position, their face-off against each other couldn’t hold more importance. With both the sides having amassed the 10 points after 12 matches each; it’s a season that will fold its curtain for the side ending up as the losing side.
With propositions of such colossal importance at stake, the clash in Punjab is set to be an absolute engrossing encounter. A surface where the batsmen wreck havoc on the bowlers, it looks set to be a fest from the West Indians.
Chris Gayle and Andre Russel at either end will open an onslaught on the bowlers, sparing nothing to find the boundary at will.
KXIP vs KKR – What numbers suggest?
Punjab and Kolkata have played a total of 24 matches till now. While Punjab have only won eight matches, Kolkata have emerged victorious on as many as 16 occasions. Out of the six matches played in Mohali, both KXIP and KKR have won three matches each.
KXIP vs KKR – Key battles
Chris Gayle vs Sunil Narine
Players of the same country both will be completely aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. And perhaps one of the two batsman who Punjab have turned to get the big runs for them, the need for Gayle to score a whirlwind innings and take on KKR’s bowlers to break apart their confidence is a huge one.
It’ll by no means be an easy going for him though. KKR have two spinners who’ll trouble him and expect Narine to be deployed pretty early on against Gayle. The wicket to wicket bowling by Narine who prefers to go with the faster deliveries can leave Gayle stumped and this promises to be an extremely intriguing watch.
Mohammed Shami vs Andre Russell
The biggest improvement that Shami has shown over the last year has been the ability he’s acquired to limit the scoring in the death overs. He’s become much more aware of the deliveries needed to cramp the batsmen up for room in the final part of the innings and him facing off against Russell could well turn the match either way.
Russell was promoted the last time around, a move that should have been long due by KKR. If he’s sent up the order yet again to bide his time out in the middle, Shami will be unleashed against him to limit the scoring.
Expect lot many slower deliveries, shorter bowled ones and the fingers being worded around the ball by Shami here to get the ball to dance to his tunes.
ALSO READ: Head to Head | Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders | IPL 2019
KXIP vs KKR – Match Prediction
This is definitely an encounter which is going to keep us captivated till the last ball. The margin for error will be extremely negligible for either side and expect resolute performances for both the sides.
On a batting surface, what sees Punjab go into the match as the second favourite side is their agonising bowling unit. There’s not one bowler who can be banked on to crumble and tumble KKR and as the runs will pour in at will, Punjab will find it an extremely treacherous task to limit the opposition. We expect KKR to get past Punjab here.
