IPL 2018, KKR vs KXIP: 3 reasons why Kolkata Knight Riders lost
It was a match between the two first-time skippers, leading their side in this year's IPL as Kolkata Knight Riders were raring to go against the formidable Kings XI Punjab at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Following the trend, KKR were put into bat as they registered 191 runs in their 20 overs for the loss of seven wickets.
The Kings, in the quest to chase the target, came to all guns blazing with their openers getting them off to a flier.
It was just a matter of time before the home team succumbed to defeat in a rain-curtailed match after Punjab required just 125 runs in 13 overs.
Let's take a look at some of the reasons that propelled the loss for Kolkata Knight Riders:
#1 Economical death over bowling by KXIP bowlers
After some recovery in the middle overs courtesy a fifty plus knock from Chris Lynn and some elegant boundaries from the skipper Dinesh Karthik, Kings XI Punjab bowlers seemed to pull things back to prevent the home team to go anything big in the final five overs.
At one stage, a target that looked inching towards 210-215, Kings managed to take the prized scalp of the big hitter in Andre Russell before he could unleash his shots.
The comeback was possible riding on the back of Barinder Sran and Andrew Tye, as the duo didn't allow easy runs and picked wickets at crucial junctures to stop Knight Riders at 191.