IPL: Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Aim to Keep Winning Momentum Going
Kings XI Punjab are languishing at the bottom of the Indian Premier League table with six points from nine games, while Royal Challengers Bangalore are seventh with same points from eight matches
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: May 08, 2016 02:11 pm IST
Highlights
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RCB take on KXIP in Mohali on Monday
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RCB are seventh with three wins in eight games
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KXIP are bottom with three wins in nine games
Desperate to get their campaigns back on track, two bottom placed teams in Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore lock horns in Mohali on Monday, aiming to keep their winning momentum going to stay afloat in the ninth edition of the Indian Premier League.
Both Kings XI and RCB have struggled in the ongoing IPL and their hard-fought victories on Saturday came at a time when they badly needed wins to remain in the hunt.
While RCB managed to snap their three-game losing streak with a seven-wicket win over Rising Pune Supergiants, Kings XI defeated Delhi Daredevils by nine runs to register only their third win in the tournament out of nine games.
Kings XI are languishing at the bottom of the table with six points from nine games, while RCB are just ahead with same points from eight matches.
And from here on, both the teams cannot afford to slip up and would look for consistency to keep their campaigns alive.
For Kings XI it won't be easy as RCB's batting line up includes some of the most destructive names of world cricket in skipper Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Shane Watson.
Come Monday, all eyes will be on RCB skipper Virat Kohli, who has taken the IPL by storm with his two tons.
Kohli has emerged as man of the moment for RCB, whose third victory against Pune, came largely due to the skipper's 58-ball unbeaten 108.
Chasing a formidable 192 for victory, a determined Kohli batted right till the end to amass his second century of the tournament and guide RCB to the much-needed win.
Kohli is leading the top scorers list with 541 runs, which includes two tons and four half-centuries.
RCB, with perhaps the most intimidating batting line-ups, have had to taste defeats because of a pedestrian bowling attack that has failed to defend 180 plus scores in most of the matches.
Inconsistent Kings
RCB's two best performers with the ball have been Watson and Yuzvendra Chahal but the likes of Stuart Binny, newly-inducted Chris Jordan, Varun Aaron and Parvez Rasool, who all leaked runs against Pune, will have to put in much better performances to support the team's batting department.
On the other hand, inconsistency has hurt Kings XI badly in the ongoing season.
They have lost three while managing to win just two on their home turf.
Kings XI, who looked to have gained some confidence from their 23-run win over Gujarat Lions on May 1, were quick to fritter away the advantage in the subsequent match when they lost by seven runs to Kolkata Knight Riders.
Chinks in their batting have been exposed time and again, and in some games they have shown tendency to over-depend on one or two batsmen while chasing.
Punjab have even changed their skipper midway through the tournament and replaced David Miller with Murali Vijay to relieve pressure from the South African, but despite that Miller is yet to make an impact with the bat.
Kings XI will also be hoping for a big knock from South African batsman Hashim Amla, who played his first match against Delhi on Saturday but was run out for just one.
Australian Marcus Stoinis (52) impressed with his all-round performance against Daredevils. He followed up his half-century effort with a three-wicket haul.
Wriddhiman Saha too scored a quickfire 52 in the winning cause and the wicket-keeper batsman would like to carry on his form.
But trio of Vijay, Maxwell and Miller will have to come up with consistent performances with the bat to help Kings XI stay afloat.
On the bowling front, medium pacer duo of Sandeep Sharma, and Mohit Sharma have been impressive.