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Preview: M20 - RPS vs KKR
24 Apr, 2016
Preview: M20 - RPS vs KKR
23 Apr, 2016
What
Rising Pune Supergiants will meet with table-topers Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 20 of VIVO IPL 2016.
Things haven’t gone to plan for the Rising Pune Supergiants, who since beating the Mumbai Indians in the competition opener, have lost three games on the bounce. In their most-recent outing on Friday night, RPS fell 13 short of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s 185. The bowling remains an area of concern for captain MS Dhoni and coach Stephen Fleming; the team has only managed to pick up a total of ten wickets in their last three matches, while leaking runs at the rate of nearly nine runs per over. The team might be forced to change their batting line-up too, after the injury to Kevin PIetersen in the previous match. Available options for RPS – among their overseas players – include the Victoria batsman Peter Handscomb, or all-rounders Mitchell Marsh or Albie Morkel.
The Kolkata Knight Riders have had a four day break since their victory over Kings XI Punjab. The two-time champions have three wins under their belt – each one of them in run-chases and with convincing margins.
When
24 April 2016, 2000 Hrs IST
Where
MCA International Stadium, Pune
Weather
Temperature: Max 29°c, Min 23°c
Humidity: Max 71%
Wind: 9kmph
The Protagonists
RPS’ win over MI on the opening night was set up a 78-run stand between Ajinkya Rahane and Faf du Plessis. Since then though, the team has had opening partnerships of 27, 10 and 12. It is important that between Rahane and du Plessis, one of them bats well into the second-half of the innings. If Kevin Pietersen has to sit out because of the injury, it means Steve Smith will most likely get to bat at number three, and the Australian needs to give a better account of himself – definitely better than his aggregate of 35 balls and 47 runs in three innings so far. MS Dhoni too needs to move up to number four and leave the finishing business to the all-rounders.
KKR have stuck with a template that has worked for them over the years. Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa, even if they don’t score as quickly at the top as some of the other teams, ensure they set a healthy platform from which the rest of the team can launch. Uthappa has played aggressive shots every now and then to catch the bowlers off guard, while Gambhir has shown the keenness to bat through well into the latter half of the innings. On the bowling front, KKR have everything that a captain can possibly ask for; the options available for Gambhir include quick bowlers, off-spinners, leg-spinners, left-arm spinners and even a chinaman bowler. Each one of the bowlers is capable of turning in a match-winning spell, and Gambhir has used the resources available at his disposal very intelligently.
Trivia
In their four matches so far, KKR have lost only one wicket in the Powerplay overs.
On the bowling front, KKR have been extremely miserly with the ball, conceding runs at the rate of 6.88 in the Powerplay Overs; they are the only team with an economy rate of under seven in the first six overs.
KKR are generally associated with using their spinners to tie down their opposition. However, so far in VIVO 2016, their pacers have provided them more wickets – 15, as against their spinners – 11.
In Friday’s match between RPS and RCB, there were only 63 dot balls in total. Both teams ran plenty of singles and twos – 118 and 20 respectively – in that match.
The RPS captain MS Dhoni and the KKR captain Gautam Gambhir are the two-most experienced captains in T20 cricket; the former has been captain in 224 T20 matches, while the latter has been captain in 132 20-over matches.
What Next
In two days time – on April 26, Rising Pune Supergiants will be seen in action in Hyderabad against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Kolkata Knight Riders meanwhile head to Mumbai for their return fixture against the defending champions Mumbai Indians, scheduled to be played on April 28.
