What

Match 47 of VIVO IPL 2017 will feature Kings XI Punjab and Gujarat Lions. The two points available for the taking in this match are more crucial for KXIP, who are still in the race to make it to the playoffs.

KXIP have five wins from ten matches this season – the last of those wins coming against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday night. If they win their remaining four matches they should make it to the playoffs. If they lose one of their remaining matches, they could still make it to the playoffs, but for that to happen they will need other results to go their way. And then, there’s the incentive for finishing in the top two – so KXIP will ideally want to win all their remaining matches.

The Lions cannot qualify for the Playoffs, but they will be keen to put the brakes on their three-match losing streak. Suresh Raina’s side has won only three of their 11 matches so far, and even if they are to win their remaining three fixtures, they can only get to 12 points which will not be sufficient to make the top four cut. In their most-recent match, the Lions were blown away by the young pair of Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant, who helped the Delhi Daredevils chase down 209. To add to their woes, the Lions will be without the services of one of their batting mainstays; Brendon McCullum has injured his hamstring, and will take no further part in the tournament. That injury means the Lions are left with only four overseas players in their squad, and will have to mandatorily hand an IPL debut to Chirag Suri. How that hampers the balance of the team remains to be seen.

When

07 May 2017, 2000 Hrs IST

Where

IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali

The Protagonists

One of Hashim Amla, Martin Guptill or Glenn Maxwell needs to get a big score for Kings XI Punjab. Among the KXIP bowlers, the spotlight will be on Sandeep Sharma – who in the previous match became the first bowler to dismiss the triumvirate of Gayle, Kohli and de Villiers. Axar Patel has been a silent performer for KXIP; the 23-year old has contributed crucial runs and has picked up key wickets.

In the absence of McCullum, there will be additional pressure on captain Suresh Raina to get a big score. Aaron Finch will most likely step up to open the innings – having batted in the middle order for most part of the season, and he will be expected to get a big one.

Head to Head

Overall: Matches played – 3, Kings XI Punjab Won – 2, Gujarat Lions Won – 1.

Trivia

The Gujarat Lions have batted first on six occasions this season and have ended on the losing side on each of those occasions.

The Gujarat Lions are the only team with an overall (bowling) economy rate of more than nine; their overall economy rate this season is 9.30.

KXIP’s Axar Patel is one three all-rounders to score more than 150 runs and take more than 10 wickets in VIVO IPL 2017.

What Next

For Kings XI Punjab: Return Fixture (Home) against Kolkata Knight Riders, May 9

For Gujarat Lions: Return Fixture (Home) against Delhi Daredevils, May 10