IPL 2020: DC vs KXIP Game Plan 3 – Rishabh Pant and his KXIP jinx
The second match of the IPL 2020 tournament between the blockbuster teams, Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab, could all be about match-ups. We take a look at a key game plan that could play a role in the second game of IPL 2020 – DC vs KXIP.
DC vs KXIP Game Plan – Can Rishabh Pant overcome his poor record against KXIP?
Rishabh Pant has played against KXIP on seven occasions prior to today’s encounter. Collectively, he has scored just 99 runs from 71 balls, at an average of 16.5 and a strike-rate of 139.44. Compare this to his career average of 33.45 and strike-rate of 155.66, and it is clearly visible how poor his returns against them have been.
DC vs KXIP – Game Plan 3 – Rishabh Pant’s ordinary record against Kings XI Punjab
The young Delhi swashbuckler will want to rectify that record later today. 3 of his six dismissals have come against off-break bowling, Mujeeb ur Rahman (twice) and Glenn Maxwell (0nce) being the bowlers. In fact, Rishabh Pant to date has been dismissed just three times by off-spin during his first ten balls, and two of them have been by Maxwell and Mujeeb.
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Both of these times, Rishabh Pant played for the spin and ended up being beaten by the straighter ball, to be out leg before wicket by Maxwell and bowled by Mujeeb. As mentioned in the previous game plan, Dubai is one of the best venues for spinners who get a fair amount of turn off the pitch. On these tracks, it is crucial to pick the ball, especially against bowlers like Mujeeb who are known to target the stumps more often.
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Considering Delhi have three left-handers in their top five, someone like Mujeeb ur Rahman could very well make the KXIP playing eleven tomorrow. Even otherwise, Punjab have plenty of other offbreak options who could be a handful on the Dubai pitch, such as Krishnappa Gowtham and Glenn Maxwell, who is more than handy with the ball. For Rishabh Pant to improve his record against the Kings XI Punjab, he must read the ball off the pitch, if not off the hand, before attempting a stroke. If he plays down the wrong line, he could be trapped in front again, which is something the bowling team should look to exploit.