IPL 2018 KXIP vs KKR: 5 player battles to look forward to between Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders
After strong starts to their IPL campaigns, both Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders find themselves in a bit of a crisis. While KXIP lost their previous game, they are still third in the table having played 1 fewer game than their opponents. They are still not in danger of missing out on the playoffs but they are still in with a chance of making it to the top 2.
On the other hand, KKR lost their previous two games, both against MI and the latest defeat was a mauling at Eden Gardens. With three games left, they are in desperate need of registering a win at Indore and haul themselves up in the points table. In the previous encounter, KKR were comprehensively beaten in a rain-reduced game through a special opening partnership between KL Rahul and Chris Gayle.
As ever, this game will again be decided by how KKR bowl against those two but there will be many individual battles that will ultimately have a big say on the final result of the game. Here is a look at 5 of the most important ones.
#5 Ravichandran Ashwin v Nitish Rana
The KKR number 4 started off in fine nick but since then he has found it hard to get a substantial score and considering the fact that Nitish Rana bats at number 4, his contribution is going to be crucial.
The left-hander has so far made 240 runs in 10 games at an average of 30 and has recorded a strike rate of 129.72. Due to his batting position, he is most likely going to run into the KXIP spinners straightaway and his battle with Ravichandran Ashwin is going to be an intriguing one.
First of all, the battle between a youngster and a seasoned professional is almost always interesting. Secondly, their battle will almost definitely decide the direction of the KKR innings.
The Indian star has not taken many wickets so far (6 in 10 games) but is the sort of control that he provides that makes him such an excellent bowler. He has gone for only 7.77 runs an over and he would definitely like to stall Rana when he comes up against the left-hander.