Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab, Indian Premier League 2020: In Pics
KXIP opt to bat against CSK
KL Rahul-led Kings XI Punjab won the toss and opted to bat first against three-time winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Match 18 of the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
The Chennai-based franchise kicked off their campaign at the 13th season of the lucrative T20 tournament with a comfortable five-wicket win over defending champions Mumbai Indians. However, they failed to capitalise on the same and slumped to three consecutive defeats--against Rajasthan Royals (lost by 16 runs), Delhi Capitals (lost by 44 runs) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (lost by seven runs).
The three back-to-back defeats saw CSK slump to the bottom of the IPL 2020 standings. (Image Credits: Twitter/@IPL)
Chennai Super Kings - Playing XI
Interestingly, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have headed into the clash against Kings XI Punjab with the same squad that slumped to a seven-run defeat at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Faf du Plessis, Shane Watson, Sam Curran and Dwayne Bravo are the four overseas players in the MS Dhoni's Playing XI against the KL Rahul-led side.
The two teams have faced each other in a total of 21 matches, with CSK emerging victorious on 12 occasions. (Image Credits: Twitter/@ChennaiIPL)
Kings XI Punjab - Playing XI
A pawfect Playing XI? #WorldAnimalDay #SaddaPunjab #IPL2020 #KXIP #KXIPvCSK pic.twitter.com/AGZNkAsSjy
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) October 4, 2020
Kings XI have made three changes in their Playing XI. Karun Nair, K Gowtham, and Jimmy Neesham are out, while Mandeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, and Chris Jordan have been roped in.
Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Chris Jordan and Sheldon Cottrell are the four overseas players in Punjab's Playing XI against CSK.
Kings XI Punjab end Powerplay at 46/0
Mayank Agarwal departs for 26
Mandeep Singh falls for 27
KL Rahul brings up fifty
Shardul Thakur strikes twice for CSK
Back-to-back wickets for Shardul Thakur. Nicholas Pooran (33) looked to go high on the first delivery of the 18th over, only to see Ravindra Jadeja grab a good catch at deep midwicket. Skipper KL Rahul (63), on the other hand, was caught by MS Dhoni behind the stumps on the very next ball. (Image Credits: Twitter/@IPL)