In the 43rd match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 has the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) will be locking horns with the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. This game, the second one on a double-header Saturday, and despite sitting at the bottom of the table for more than half of the campaign, KXIP have got back to the winning ways, and the introduction of Chris Gayle in the playing XI has worked wonders for them.
KXIP bowlers, Mohammed Shami leading the way with 16 wickets in IPL 2020 along with KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal leaving no stone unturned with the bat. However, the Sunrisers Hyderabad are still in the running for a playoff place in IPL 2020, with their stunning win against RR recently serving as proof of their undeniable quality. Although Bairstow and Warner have blown hot and cold this season, SRH’s famed bowling unit led by Rashid Khan has been right on the money.
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The addition of Jason Holder has lent valuable depth to the side, and SRH is looking well-equipped to defeat KXIP in Dubai. They would take confidence from their win against KXIP in the reverse fixture, where Jonny Bairstow played a flamboyant knock of a 55-ball 97. However, KXIP does have momentum on their side, and SRH is in for a stern test on Saturday.
As the two sides prepare for a thrilling encounter, here’s a look at three key player battles to keep an eye on.
#1. Rashid Khan vs KL Rahul
Despite having the burden of leading the team with wicket-keeping, KL Rahul has not flagged with the bat which has also helped KXIP to win two consecutive matches. SRH has, in Rashid Khan, the man with the best wicket haul in IPL 2020 so far and the clash between these two on Saturday would be quite the face-off.
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With Rahul scoring 525 runs off nine matches in IPL 2020, with a strike rate of 135.65 and Rashid scalping 12 wickets from nine matches at an economy of 5.47. He has been among the wickets in every match and has been instrumental in many SRH successes.
#2. David Warner vs Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami has been not been able to produce the performance he was expected ahead of IPL 2020. He will be optimistic to get his form back especially against SRH skipper, David Warner, whose sublime stroke play can ruin the bowling figures of some of the best in the business. Iyer is amongst the top run-scorers in the ongoing edition, having scored 335 runs in ten matches at a strike rate of 124.05. He has been ensuring a quick start for SRH and he is yet to hit the heights of his capability.
#3. Manish Pandey vs Ravi Bishnoi
Manish Pandey is quite the enigma for DC. He holds the lowest profile, quite happy for the glitz and glamour to be on the superstars while he gets on with his job. He has amassed 295 runs from eight matches with the help of three half-centuries. In IPL history, the DC batsman has played 168 matches for 3138 runs at a strike rate of 122.
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Ravi Bishnoi has been as consistent for KXIP as he has claimed eight wickets in eight matches but they all have been important wickets, at critical stages, and maintained the economy is 8.03. Bishnoi will have his task cut out against Manish and the SRH batting.
