IPL 2018: KXIP record season’s lowest total batting first against RCB

If they win both their remaining matches, it will make sure the fourth qualifying team can go through with 14 points. So there are three places still up for grabs for the knock-outs.

The playoffs scenario: Ravi Ashwin’s Kings XI could have all-but sewn up a spot in the final quartet with victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore but instead see themselves outside of the top four for the first time this season. “Other teams will be wary of a team with such a mindset”.

Royal Challengers Bangalore are now placed in the seventh place on the league table with four wins from 11 games.

Royal Challengers Bangalore started slowly but they seem to have slowly emerged out of the chaos.

There have been plenty of changes in the batting line-up but they finally seem to have settled on one with Moeen Ali and Parthiv Patel opening the innings. 15 runs scored. 10:00 pm: RCB 39/0 after 4 overs A tight over by Andrew Tye. Only three run off the over. A sixer and two boundaries smashed by Kohli. 11 runs off the over. Showing massive respect for Kohli, ABD called him “a force of nature at the crease” in his column for a leading daily. He remained unbeaten on 40 off just 22 deliveries scoring at a strike rate of 181.82 which was higher than that of Kohli.

WICKETS! RCB have made a strong comeback with two wickets in one over. 4 runs off the over. On the next delivery, Russell got the wicket of Mayank Agarwal who was dismissed for a golden duck after the right-hander hit the ball into the hands of Javon Searles at mid-wicket boundary. Ashwin Run Out for a duck! And the duo added unconquered 92 runs in 50 balls. That wicket had put the KXIP in serious trouble as they were 3 wickets down within the powerplay itself. Stoinis was new to the crease and Chahal made a decision to throw in a googly to him.

Aaron Finch tried to provide some resistance with the bat, but poor shot selection costed Australian his wicket. Four runs off the over. While Rahul pulled one straight to de Grandhomme a deep square leg, Gayle departed in similar fashion caught by Siraj off another short delivery three balls later. Umesh Yadav was spectacular in the initial stages of the tournament but has receded into the sunlight as the wickets have dried up and the economies have gone up. Big man Chris Gayle leaves ater making 18 runs. Rahul and Gayle are at the crease.

For KXIP, Rahul has been in a different league with five half-centuries and a strike-rate of 162 plus and an average of almost 60. U Yadav will open the attack. Although a meekly chance, mathematically RCB can still make it to Playoffs for that, a win today is a must. Their Bowling side has started to show some cracks as well.

India and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli has admitted that it’s always an “honour” when he gets the opportunity to bat with South Africa’s AB de Villiers.