IPL 2018: Match 12, KXIP vs CSK, Preview - Depleted Super Kings aim to spoil Bhangra party in Mohali

Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) will face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Mohali in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday. The visitors have won both their games which went down to the last over and have announced themselves back into the tournament. While Punjab were handed a defeat in Bangalore, they would be eyeing yet another victory in their home ground. However, the Men in Yellow are on a rampage and are set to make it three wins out of three matches in this season.

R Ashwin led the side well against Royal Challengers Bangalore while defending the middling total of 155 runs the other night. He himself bowled nicely and picked a couple of crucial wickets only to make it difficult for the opposition. The team is looking nicely gelled under him as they would love to get past the tough examination at home. Moreover, their batsmen need to take more responsibility and someone in the top order has to anchor the innings unlike what they did in their last game.

CSK are facing all the troubles off the field and despite that, they would feel confident of winning yet another encounter. They have got a settled side and have enough and able replacements to pose a threat to KXIP on the day. While the skipper MS Dhoni would be eyeing to tee off in the absence of Suresh Raina in the middle order, it remains important that the team’s gun players continue in the same vein.

The pitch in Mohali has proved to be a batting paradise as the home side chased down the total of 167 with more than one over to spare against Delhi Daredevils (DD) earlier this week. It would be no surprise if yet another high-scoring encounter and the last ball thriller treats the cricket fans all over the world.

Team Combinations

Kings XI Punjab

KXIP have no reason to change their playing XI whatsoever as they have done well together despite losing the last game. KL Rahul is in scintillating form with the bat and it is about time when Aaron Finch and Yuvraj Singh will click. Karun Nair looked good in the middle order and should continue batting at 5. Though Marcus Stoinis has to perform the role of all-rounder properly. The bowling attack is brilliant this time around for Punjab on which they can bank to win the matches.

The leader of the pack is a match-winner himself and is supported by Mujeeb Zadran who bowled the ball of the tournament last night to one of the best in business, Virat Kohli. The likes of Axar Patel, Andrew Tye and Mohit Sharma are also a decent bit and if needed Stoinis can always bowl a few overs.

Probable XI: KL Rahul (wk), Mayank Agarwal, Aaron Finch, Yuvraj Singh, Karun Nair, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, R Ashwin (c), Andrew Tye, Mujeeb Zadran, Mohit Sharma

Chennai Super Kings

The absence of Suresh Raina from the line-up is surely going to affect their batting order. Murali Vijay will come in place of him but he will be opening the innings along with Shane Watson as Ambati Rayudu will come down at number 3. Dhoni will continue to bat at 4 with Sam Billings and the all-rounders to follow. The bowling attack should be the same though they might think of bringing in David Willey for Imran Tahir who should’ve joined the squad by now.

Probable XI: Murali Vijay, Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c) & (wk), Sam Billings, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir, Shardul Thakur.

Focus will be on

Yuvraj Singh (KXIP)

The left-hander is under immense pressure going into this game. Yuvraj Singh has endured a couple of tough outings and will have to play a significant knock soon. There are no doubts whatsoever with the ability he possesses and he will win the game on his day. But the issue is the way he is getting dismissed. He missed out a straighter one off Umesh Yadav in the last match and the middle stump was uprooted. Yuvi is not the guy to get bogged down and a brilliant innings from him is just around the corner.

Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu has been the silent hero for CSK so far with some key contributions with the bat while opening the innings. He will come to bat at number 3 surely in this match to accommodate Raina’s place and all eyes will be on him as he will need to play an impact knock. He is an experienced cricketer and all his career has played in the middle order. So it won’t be tough for him to alter his game and the way he plays might eventually define the state of the game for CSK.

Head to Head

Played- 17 Kings XI Punjab – 6, Chennai Super Kings – 10, Tie-  1 (KXIP won the super over)

Stat Attack

TV– Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Jalsha (Bengali), Star Maa Movies (Telegu), Star Sports Tamil

Online– Hotstar & YuppTv

Match Timings: 20:00 IST, 14:30 GMT

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