IPL 2019: Match 32, KXIP vs RR – Kings XI Punjab Player Ratings

The luckless run of the Rajasthan Royals in the 2019 edition of the IPL does not seem to end. They lost yet another game in the season when they played against the Kings XI Punjab in Mohali. Taking no credits away from the hosts, it was a spirited show by the KXIP bowlers in the match. With the win, they have now managed to extend their good run of form in the season as the race to the playoffs intensifies now. They asked the Royals to chase down 182 for the win and ensured that they defended it eventually despite a brief scare by Stuart Binny’s quick flashy knock.

Earlier in the game, RR won the toss and opted to bowl first. The hosts got off to a flying start with Chris Gayle continuing in good form. Once Gayle perished on 30, Mayank Agarwal smashed a few in his quick 26 as well. David Miller contributed with a handy 40, and the batters played around KL Rahul, who watched all the big shots from the other end. Rahul top scored with a 52 as KXIP finished with 182/6 in their stipulated 20 overs. For RR, Jofra Archer was the pick of the bowlers with 3/15 to his name.

In the run chase, RR had a similar fate to that of KXIP, albeit they eventually fell short of making it through. The visitors fell short by 12 runs and the hosts consolidated their good run in the season. Rahul Tripathi batted for the major part of the innings with an anchoring fifty, as the other batters batted around him. Towards the end, the wickets fell in cluster. Stuart Binny played a herculean knock of an unbeaten 33 off just 11 balls to provide the final push, but that was just not enough for the Royals to register their third win in the season.

Here are the KXIP Player Ratings for the match:

KL Rahul – 9/10

KL Rahul has been in top form this season. The stylish opener played another defining inning for the KXIP camp. Rahul is currently placed second in the list of contenders for the Orange Cap this season. In this match, he only strengthened his claims for the top spot with 52 off 47 balls to his name. He hit 3 fours and 2 sixes as he anchored the innings for his side. Rahul certainly proved his selection in the India’s World Cup squad.

Chris Gayle – 7/10

Chris Gayle was in sizzling hot form in the match. The Big Jamaican, who recently scored a 99 in the season, scored brisk 30 runs in only 22 balls. He took a special liking to Jaydev Unadkat in the match. Gayle smashed a couple of fours and 3 sixes during his brief stay at the crease. He provided the ideal start that the team needed.

Mayank Agarwal – 7/10

Mayank Agarwal walked in to bat with two deliveries left in the powerplay. The powerplay ended but it did not end the intentions of Mayank. The attacking batsman played to his skins and took the attack to the opposition bowlers. Agarwal accumulated 26 runs in the 12 balls that he faced. This included a couple of maximums and a four.

David Miller – 7.5/10

David Miller had a run with his luck in the match. He was not in the starting eleven of the Kings lineup initially. A last minute injury to Moises Henriques saw Miller feature in the side as a replacement for the match. He made his opportunity count and scored a decent 40 off just 27 balls with 2 fours and as many number of sixes.

Nicholas Pooran – 2/10

Nicholas Pooran has a good reputation of being a big hitter of the cricket ball. Pooran retained his place in the KXIP lineup for the match and arrived at the crease with a handful of overs left. He had the stage set for himself to unleash and provide the final flourish. But Pooran failed in doing so and could only manage a single digit score in the match.

Mandeep Singh – 2/10

Mandeep Singh’s stay at the crease was cut short by Jofra Archer. Mandeep walked in to bat in the penultimate over of the match and saw his woodwork shattered with no run to his name. Mandeep, however, played a small part in the KXIP bowling as well. He covered up for the one over that Mujeeb could not bowl and did a fair job conceding just 8 runs.

Ravichandran Ashwin – 9/10

Ravichandran Ashwin showed some serious leadership skills in the match. He marshalled his troops exceedingly well and knew exactly when to bring which bowler. On a personal front, he bowled a tight spell, conceding just 24 runs in his four overs. He bagged two important wickets of Rahul Tripathi and Sanju Samson. Earlier in the match, he had played a handy unbeaten cameo of 17 that came in just 4 deliveries!

Mujeeb Ur Rahman – 3/10

Mujeeb Ur Rahman has largely struggled to get going in this season of the IPL. His luckless run in the season continued in this game as well. He bowled 3 overs and failed to pick up a wicket. He conceded 24 runs and it was Jos Buttler who took the attack to him in the match. To worsen things, Mujeeb ended up injuring his shoulder while fielding on the boundary rope.

Murugan Ashwin – 8.5/10

Murugan Ashwin has become a seasoned campaigner in the IPL now. He bowled yet another economical spell this season and is of the unsung heroes of the KXIP win on the night. Ashwin bowled his complete quota of four overs and gave away just 24 runs at an economy rate of 6. He dismissed Ashton Turner, who made his debut in the match and came in with a reputation of a big hitter.

Arshdeep Singh – 7.5/10

Young 20-year old Arshdeep Singh made his IPL debut in the match. Arshdeep had a harsh welcome to the big world of IPL cricket with Jos Buttler taking an attack to him. But he certainly had the last laugh. He dismissed Buttler to pick his maiden IPL wicket. Later, he also accounted for the dismissal of Ajinkya Rahane. His bowling figures took a toll when Stuart Binny smashed a couple of sixes off his bowling in the 19th over of the run chase. He finished with 2/43 in his four overs.

Mohammed Shami – 6/10

Mohammed Shami was a tad expensive in this game. He was taken away for 46 runs in the four overs that he bowled. He was not given the new ball in the match and was rather asked to bowl in the middle overs. One of the aspects of the game where Shami has improved significantly is to have the ability to bowl at any stage of the game. He managed to pick up two wickets, and towards the end, he found his mojo of bowling good yorkers as well.

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