IPL 2018, KXIP vs RR: 5 player battles to look forward to

Rajasthan Royals' loss in the rain-curtailed game at Delhi has placed them at the bottom of the table and they would be desperate for a win when they take on Kings XI Punjab at Indore tonight. KXIP are also coming off a loss and although they are well placed to finish among the top 4 teams, they must string together more victories.

RR’s form has been indifferent and they have recorded only 3 wins in 8 games, which is why they need to quickly make winning a habit if they are to make it to the top 4. It will be a closely-contested game and the outcome will be decided by some of the individual battles that will take place tonight. Here is a look at 5 of the most important ones.

#5 Ravichandran Ashwin v Sanju Samson

Ravichandran Ashwin’s reinvention as a spinner has seen him become one of the mainstays of his team’s bowling attack this season. In 8 games so far, he may not have taken many wickets (5) but he has kept things tight and gone for only 7.71 runs an over. Tonight, his battle against RR’s number 3 Sanju Samson is going to be a crucial one.

The wicketkeeper-batsman is in excellent form and has emerged as RR’s highest run-scorer with a total of 282 runs to his name. He is averaging 40.28 and has recorded a strike rate of 145.36. That said, he is a player who likes to play against faster bowlers and that is why his encounter with Ashwin is such a crucial one. If Samson can get on top of the Indian off-spinner then there is every chance for RR to completely break the back of the KXIP attack.

Conversely, Ashwin picking up his wicket would be a body blow to RR’s chances in the game.