What

Kings XI Punjab will make their final appearance in Pepsi IPL 2015 when they square off against the Chennai Super Kings in Match 53.

KXIP have had a largely forgettable season. There were huge expectations from them after their dominance of the competition last season when they finished runner-up. This season, they have won only three of their 13 matches, currently lie at the floor of the table and are sure to finish with the wooden spoon. After being blown away for most part of their earlier matches in the season, KXIP have hit some kind of rhythm – competing well in the last three matches. In their most recent outing, they defeated a formidable Royal Challengers Bangalore by 22 runs in a 10-overs-a-side bash. One expects the laughter and cheers would have returned to the dressing room, and the team will be keen to finish their campaign on a winning note, and give their home fans a reason to cheer.

CSK were the first team to qualify for the Pepsi IPL 2015 Playoffs. The two-time champions have been a force – just like they have been through the years. The motivation for them is to return to winning ways after suffering a shock defeat at the hands of Delhi Daredevils in the previous match, and to ensure they finish in the top two places at the end of the league stage. Coach Stephen Fleming indicated that his team were focussed on sealing a place in the top two teams. In his interaction with the media on the eve of the match, he said, “There is an advantage if you are (at) one and two, and we have an opportunity tomorrow to push for that position.”

When

16 May 2015, 4p.m. IST

Where

Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali

The Protagonists

KXIP had a surprise performer at the top of the innings in their previous match against Royal Challengers – Wriddhiman Saha. The team has struggled to realise runs from their openers, and in Saha they seem to have found an option to their opening woes. KXIP coach Sanjay Bangar had a lot of praise for his glovesman when he said, “He has adapted to the position very well. He has been very flexible for us; whether we’ve asked him to open or bat at No 3 or No 6, he is our most flexible guy in the batting order. He has given a very good account of himself and obviously tomorrow as well he is going to go out and open for us.” If Saha can give the team a solid platform yet again, then the focus will shift to the two stroke-makers in the middle – Glenn Maxwell and David Miller. Both batsmen are entertainers and will be keen to sign off from the competition playing their brand of cricket.

Brendon McCullum has been CSK’s best batsman – not just because of the quantum of runs he has scored, but also because of the manner in which he has got them. The opener has scored 430 runs in 13 innings – at a strike-rate of 156.93 - 79% of which he has scored through boundaries. This will be the Kiwi batsman’s final innings of the season - he is scheduled to be released so he can join up with the New Zealand team who are scheduled to tour England – and will want to sign off with yet another signature destructive performance.

Previous Meetings

The head to head between Kings XI Punjab and the Chennai Super Kings reads 9-7 in favour of the latter.

In the most-recent meeting between the two teams, the home team Chennai Super Kings posted 192-3 riding on contributions all round from their batsmen and then strangled the visitors to 95 for 9. Brendon McCullum’s 44-ball 66 was the highest score of the match, while Ravindra Jadeja returned figures of 3-22 from his four overs.

Trivia

All the three Pepsi IPL 2015 matches in Mohali have been won by the team batting first. In the first match, SRH defeated KXIP by 20 runs after posting 150-6. In the second match MI scored 172-3 and won by 23 runs. In the most-recent match – reduced to 10-overs-a-side, KXIP posted 106-6 and then restricted RCB to 84-6, winning by 22 runs.

7 of Chennai Super Kings’ 8 wins this season have been when they have batted first. Their only win in a run-chase was when they chased down 184 against Mumbai Indians in 16.4 overs.

Chennai Super Kings have only won two of their six away fixtures in Pepsi IPL 2015. In contrast, they have won 6 of their 7 home fixtures this season.

What Next

This fixture draws the curtains on Kings XI Punjab’s Pepsi IPL 2015 campaign. Chennai Super Kings, who have already qualified for the Playoffs, will have to wait to see where they finish in the standings. If they finish among the top two teams, they will feature in Qualifier1 – scheduled to be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on May 19. If they find themselves at the third or fourth places in the standings, they will feature in the Eliminator, which will be played in Pune on May 20.