Dubai, September 24: Kings XI Punjab lock horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore in Match 6 of the IPL 2020 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Thursday (September 24).
While KL Rahul-led Punjab will look to put behind the controversial 'short run' decision in their IPL 2020 opener and start afresh from a Super Over hangover, Virat Kolhi's men will look to keep momentum by building on their campaign opening win.
In their opening game against Delhi Capitals, the square-leg umpire incorrectly called KXIP's Chris Jordan for a 'short run' in the third ball of the 19th over, effectively costing his team the closely fought game.
KXIP went on to lodge an appeal to the match referee about the incident, but they would like forget the unsavoury incident and focus on the task ahead.
In contrast, RCB opened their campaign on a winning note defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 10 runs, raising hopes that things might finally fall into place for them this season.
Young opener Devdutt Padikkal started his IPL career on a classy note hitting a sublime half-century and will once again be in focus, while AB de Villers will also look to continue in the same vein following a crucial half-century.
RCB could, however, come up against familar faces in Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and also Chris Gayle, who is very likely to return to the playing XI after having missed the opening match for Punjab.
Here is mykhel updates on Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore:
The centurion Rahul had this to say: "As a leader it's the most important thing to lead from the front. Really happy to do it tonight! "I was a bit nervous, but I knew if a play few balls, I will settle in!" While he also praised young bowler Ravi Bishnoi for his contribution with the ball.
After this performance, KXIP duo KL Rahul and Mohammed Shami are the Orange and Purple cap holders respectively.
Sheldon Cottrell picked up the Power Player of the Match award for his impressive bowling performance for KXIP.
KL Rahul picks up the Man of the Match award and the Super Striker awards. And he also picked up the award for the most sixes.
KL Rahul now has the highest score ever by an Indian in IPL.#Dream11IPL #KXIPvRCB pic.twitter.com/zu8r2kTeWW
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 24, 2020
Virat Kohli takes the brunt for the result: "I have to stand in front and take the brunt of it, not the best day in the office, couple of important chances of KL when he was set and that cost us 35-40 runs at a later stage maybe if we restricted them to 180 we wouldn't have under pressure from ball one to chase."
And its all over as Ashwin castles Chahal plumb in front for his third wicket and the final wicket of the match. KXIP beat RCB by 97 runs.
A KL Rahul show here in Dubai as @lionsdenkxip win by 97 runs.#Dream11IPL #KXIPvRCB pic.twitter.com/awcUDkWS1f
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 24, 2020
Wicket!! Boundary and a wicket as Navdeep Saini tries to cut loose on Murgan Ashwin. And its a dismissal via a way of bowled. RCB are 106 for 9 in 16.2 overs.
Wicket!! A six and a wicket as Washington Sundar gets caught in the deep. Bishnoi picks up his third wicket of the night as we head into startegic time out with RCB reeling at 101 for 8 in 15.2 overs.
Another one bites the dust.
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 24, 2020
Bishnoi picks up his 3rd wicket of the game. #RCB in all sorts of trouble as they lose their 8th wicket.
Live - https://t.co/t6xPJ2fkJn #KXIPvRCB pic.twitter.com/BPa7JT1s5r
Bowled him!! Another one bites the dust as Umesh Yadav is cleaned up Bishnoi for a duck.
Wicket!! Maxwell strikes in his first over, hits the stumps off Dube's pads. RCB lose their sixth wicket with still a mountain to climb i their run chase.
Neesham concedes 10 in his second over as RCB move on to 80 for 5 in 12 overs.
SIX!! Dube pulls Neesham into the deep mid-wicket stands for a maximum.
Seven runs come off Shami's third over as Sundar and Dube look to steady ship. RCB are 70 for 5 in 11 overs.
Another tight over from KXIP as Neesham just concedes 3 runs in his first over. It gets even more tougher for RCB in their chase of 207 as they are struggling at 63 for 5 in 10 overs.
M Ashwin bowls another decent over as Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube look to lead RCB to contribute in the lost cause. RCB are 60 for 5 in 9 overs.
Wicket!! Looks like that's the end for RCB as AB de Villiers also goes back to the pavilion after being caught in the deep off M Ashwin
At the end of 8 overs, RCB ar struggling at 54 for 3.
Wicket!! Bishnoi strikes just when RCB were tring to settle down. Aaron Finch is cleaned up by the young leg spinner.
Bi-sshhhhh 🤫#SaddaPunjab #IPL2020 #KXIPvRCB #KXIP pic.twitter.com/yZokQbzLbt
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) September 24, 2020
50 up for RCB, who still have a long way to go, but AB and Finch look to steady ship.
Murugan Ashwin introduced into the attack by Rahul for KXIP. The spinner bowls a tidy over, conceding 7 runs. RCB are 48 for 3 in 7 overs.
Three fours!! AB de Villiers and Aaron Finch score boundaries off new bowler Ravi Bishnoi as powerplay comes to an end. RCB are 40 for 3 in 6 overs.
SIX!! Four!! AB de Villiers gives something to cheer for the RCB faithful. Cottrell concedes 14 runs. RCB are 25 for 3 in 5 overs.
Finch given out caught behind, but survives after a successful review. Shami bowls another good over. RCB are 11 for 3 in 4 overs.
RCB in all sorts of trouble with a huge mountain to climb. Can De Villiers and Finch steady ship in the run chase?
Caught!! Wicket number 3 as Cottrell gets his second wicket of the night dismissing the dangerous VIrat Kohli for 1. RCB struggling at 4 for 3 in 2.4 overs.
The celebration says it all.
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 24, 2020
Cottrell with two big wickets of Padikkal and Kohli.#KXIPvRCB #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/0dR2mkgRNg
Double blow for RCB as Devdutt and Philippe are back in the hut. RCB are 4 for 2 in 2 overs.
Wicket!! Sheldon Cottrell strikes early for KXIP as last match's star for RCB Devdutt Padikkal departs trying to clear the mid-on fielder
KL Rahul leads out KXIP sporting the Orange cap as RCB openers Aaron Finch and Devdutt Padikkal walk into the middle for RCB's run chase.
Will Kohli regret those dropped chances? Rahul was dropped when he was on 83 and 89 by the RCB skipper.
Oops! Those drops were 2 costly.#RCB captain Virat Kohli dropped KL Rahul not once but twice. Rahul went on to score an unbeaten century later.https://t.co/hdAGyperkv #Dream11IPL #KXIPvRCB
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 24, 2020
KL Rahul with his knock of 132 from 69 balls has given Kolhi's men a tough target to chase. But RCB will hope for a good start from their openers to stand a chance in chasing the score of 207 down.