IPL 2020 – Match 18 – KXIP vs CSK Betting Preview

Match Details
Kings XI Punjab v Chennai Super Kings
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Sunday, October 4th 2020
16:00 SA Time

Preview

Here are two teams placed at the bottom of the table and are in desperate need of a turnaround. Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) take on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in match number 18 of this IPL and both teams are in dire need of momentum having lost three games each.

The KL Rahul-led side just seem shot on confidence. They’ve lost a couple of nail-biting games, the ones which they should’ve won rather comfortably. And in the last game, they suffered a thrashing at the hands of Mumbai Indians (MI). It is their death bowling and middle-order batting that’s been their biggest problem.

The KXIP bowlers have bled runs like never before. While the bowlers have travelled the distance in the last five overs, their last three overs (18-20) have been worse. This season, KXIP have an economy of 19.11 in the last three overs. With the bat, no one barring KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal have got runs. The likes Glenn Maxwell, Nicholas Pooran, Karun Nair and Sarfaraz Khan in the middle-order haven’t been at their best.

On the other hand, after their win in the first game against MI, CSK have lost three in a row. In fact, it’s the first time since 2014 that they’ve lost three games in a row. In the last three games, they’ve been in a run-chase where the required rate has always been on the rise. Yet, there has been very little intent. The bowlers have blown hot and cold a touch and the batting seems to be lagging behind. Hence, CSK need to pull up their socks pretty quickly else this campaign could go downhill in no time.

Injury and Availability News

Both sides don’t have any injury concerns at the moment.

Probable Playing XI

Kings XI Punjab

KL Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Sarfaraz Khan, James Neesham/Chris Jordan/Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Krishnappa Gowtham, Mohammed Shami, Sheldon Cottrell, Ravi Bishnoi

Chennai Super Kings

Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, Piyush Chawla, Shardul Thakur

Key Players to watch out for

Mayank Agarwal: The Karnataka top-order player has been in superb form this season. Agarwal is currently leading the Orange Cap race with 246 runs. He has been the heart of the KXIP batting line-up in the first four games alongside KL Rahul.

Glenn Maxwell: The Australian all-rounder may not have had the best of starts this season. He has scored just 30 runs in four innings. However, Maxwell likes playing against CSK. He has scored 215 runs at an average of 35.83 and a strike-rate of 190.26. He could well be the one to watch out for.

Faf du Plessis: The former South African skipper has been the best CSK batsman this season. He has looked comfortable right from the start. Du Plessis has amassed 195 runs at an average of 65.00. Moreover, he has a strike-rate of 144.44 and his form might once again be crucial to CSK’s chances.

Value Bets

Kings XI Punjab

KL Rahul to be KXIP’s top batsman at 2.00.

Mohammed Shami to be KXIP’s top bowler at 2.00.

Chennai Super Kings

Faf du Plessis to be CSK’s top batsman at 2.50.

Sam Curran to be CSK’s top bowler at 3.00.

Prediction: Chennai Super Kings to win at 0.80.