We saw the first low-scoring thriller of IPL 2020, as Kings XI Punjab successfully defended 126 to keep their semis hopes alive. After registering just one win from their first seven games, the KL Rahul-led team have bounced back strongly with three wins in their next four matches.
They currently are fifth on the points table with 10 points. SRH, on the other hand, saw their IPL 2020 campaign almost come to a close as they committed harakiri, and failed to chase down the target despite needing 71 in 83 balls with 10 wickets left at one stage.
Here are the talking points:
The poor form of Glenn Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell had created waves in IPL 2014, where he almost single-handedly guided his team, Kings XI Punjab, to the finals, but the overall IPL career of the Aussie does not give a pretty reading. In 80 games, “Big Show” averages just 22.04 with the bat, and though his strike rate still reads 155.01, he has been dismal this season with his SR a poor 102.
His last 9 innings’ reads – 5, 13*, 11, 11*, 7, 10*, 0, 32 and 12 – and what has been even more surprising is that Maxwell is yet to hit a six in IPL 2020 despite falling more than 100 balls. The 32-year old had been in excellent form prior to the Indian T20 event, as he had bagged the Man of the Series award in the ODI series between Australia and England, but his continued poor runs in the season, or in the IPL in general, might force the franchises to think twice before bidding for him henceforth.
Bairstow’s struggles against leg-spin
English opener Jonny Bairstow had a fabulous season in IPL 2019, but it threw up his weaknesses against leg-spin, an area that rival teams have exploited to perfection this year. In IPL 2020, Bairstow has a poor strike rate of just under 116 against the leg-spinners and has been dismissed by them 4 times, including in the game against Kings XI Punjab, where Murugan Ashwin constantly troubled him. The SRH opener was not able to read the young Indian and often found himself flummoxed as Ashwin targeted Bairstow’s legs.
He relied on sweeping and reverse sweeping the slower bowlers – a ploy that Kevin Pietersen had used to perfection in the Test tour of India in 2012 – but Bairstow was eventually bowled by Ashwin.
Jonny Bairstow vs leg-spinners in the IPL:
– 230 Runs
– 28.8 Avg
– 164.3 SR#KXIPvSRH#ipl2020 https://t.co/a5vKOg0643— Stat Doctor🩺 (@stat_doctor) October 24, 2020
Punjab continue their dream run as the table opens up
Though Kings XI lost six of their first seven games, it was by the narrowest margins. They lost the plot in a couple of games that they should have won and had a loss in the Super Over, but have managed to come back strongly since. With four successive wins, Punjab have leapfrogged from the last position to the fifth spot, and are on 10 points currently, just a spot behind Kolkata Knight Riders, who have 12 points. The two sides – KXIP and KKR – will face each other on Monday, which will be one of the most crucial matches of the season thus far. A win for KKR on Monday will effectively put an end to the chances of Punjab, RR and SRH (CSK are already out), but if Punjab manage to edge ahead, they will go into the top four with 12 points (a superior NRR compared to KKR).
We, thus, are in for an exciting battle on Monday.
With 10 points to their name, #KXIP are now positioned at 5 on the points table.#Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/t0SFFkR3fI
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 24, 2020