IPL 2020: KXIP vs KKR – Game Plan 1 – KL Rahul at No.3 if Chris Gayle plays
KXIP vs KKR – The 24th match of the IPL 2020 tournament between the teams, Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders, could all be about match-ups. We take a look at a key game plan that could play a role in the twenty-first game of the IPL – KXIP vs KKR
KXIP vs KKR – Mayank Agarwal ought to be Chris Gayle’s ideal partner
After looking like a unit that lacked a bit of luck more than anything during the first few matches of IPL 2020, Kings XI Punjab’s cookie seems to have crumbled here. They got their team balance completely wrong in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad and had a tail which started with Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman batting at No.7. Such a thin batting order can only survive at Sharjah and certainly not at Abu Dhabi.
As a result, KXIP would have to make some changes to the line-up. This could see Chris Gayle, possibly the greatest ever T20 batsman making his first appearance in this season. The KXIP team management indicated that Gayle was close to playing in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad if not for sudden illness. So, if he does come in, it will be certainly in place of Glenn Maxwell who has only managed 48 runs from six matches so far.
So, does Gayle open along with Mayank Agarwal or KL Rahul? We think that it be better for Gayle to bat alongside Mayank Agarwal since both get off the blocks in different ways. In the recent few years, Gayle has changed his method of going for the attack from ball one to settling down for a few overs and then preferring to attack. This would complement Mayank Agarwal who has been pretty positive from the get-go this season. Agarwal’s strike-rate of 162.22 would prove this.
KXIP vs KKR – The Rahul way maybe needs a change
Gayle and KL Rahul should certainly not be KXIP’s preferred pairing as the team’s skipper has chosen to be a sheet anchor and his lack of intent has been a matter of debate in the last few games too. In fact, post the SRH vs KXIP game, Rahul played down the role of strike-rate with his batting. “I think strike rate is very, very overrated. For me, it is only about how I can win games for my team and on a certain day if 120 can win a game for my team then I will do that. This is how I bat and I like to take responsibility,” Rahul said at the post-match press conference.
Hence, it would be better for the team if KL Rahul drops down to No.3 to play his sheet anchor role. With Maxwell the most likely victim of Gayle’s inclusion, Sarfaraz Khan could be back into the line-up in place of Prabhsimran Singh due to his part-time spin bowling option. In the last game, KXIP had Mujeeb batting at No.7 and only Maxwell was available as a 6th bowling option. So, they would have to pick a batsman who can bowl some overs.
Like mentioned before, KXIP went with a very long tail against SRH. So, we would have to wait and see whether all-round options like Harpreet Brar or Jagadeesha Suchith are considered instead of a bowler for this game. The lack of depth in the batting has affected the numbers too with KXIP being the 3rd worst batting side during the death overs in this IPL.
The KXIP batsmen have to be at their best as KKR have been pretty good during the middle and death overs. The 2-time IPL champions KKR have been the 3rd best bowling side during the death overs in this IPL with Andre Russell playing a big role in that feat. Meanwhile, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has caused some trouble with his variations. He has been especially lethal with googlies which has accounted for four of his five wickets so far. If the likes of Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran are at the crease when Varun is bowling, it promises to be a very interesting battle.