Highlights:
- RCB will face KXIP for the 2nd time in IPL 2020
- Last time RCB faced KXIP, they lost the match by 97 runs
- Let us see their head-to-head stats
The 31st match of the Indian Premier League 2020 will be played between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Kings XI Punjab at 7:30 PM (IST) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, today.
Currently, RCB sits at the 3rd position on the IPL 2020 points table having won 4 of thee past 5 matches (5 wins out of 7 in total in IPL 2020), on the other hand, KXIP has only won 1 match in the entire IPL 2020 till date and sit at the bottom of the points table.
However, the game which KXIP won in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League was against RCB which they played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on the 24th of September 2020 where KXIP posted a colossal score of 206 for a loss of 3 wickets and defeated RCB by 97 runs by sending their entire line-up back to the dressing room for just 109 runs on the scoreboard after 17 overs.
While on one hand, RCB would be keen on continuing their winning run and of taking revenge for the loss at the hands of KXIP in Match 6 of IPL 2020, the Punjab side will be desperate for the 2 points if they their dream of making it to the playoffs alive.
KXIP’s all-rounder and a great performer Glenn Maxwell has let his team down in IPL 2020 as he only scored 58 runs 7 matches with a strike rate of 95.08 and an average of just 14.50.
We can, however, expect a fit-again Chris Gayle to take the field at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium tonight.
Having said this, if he does come out to bat, it will interesting to see who out of Lokesh Rahul and Mayank Agarwal is made to sacrifice his opening spot to accommodate the Caribbean Boss.
Let us take a look at RCB and KXIP Head-to-head stats
In total RCB and KXIP have faced each other 25 times including one face-off in IPL 2020 itself. Out of the 25 games, KXIP won 13 while RCB won 12 leaving very little to distinguish anything between the two teams.
In the past, RCB and KXIP have faced each other in the UAE on two occasions, one of which was in IPL 2020 and both the times KXIP went back as the winners.
Also Read: Top 55 Amazing IPL Facts You Should Know
RCB Vs KXIP last 5 matches:
Let us look at the last 5 matches they have played against each other.
24th September 2020: Kings XI Punjab won by 97 runs
24th April 2019: Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 17 runs
13th April 2019: Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 8 wickets
14th May 2018: Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 10 wickets
13th April 2018: Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 4 wickets
Going by the stats, and the form RCB are in they would be the favourites going into the game.
Let us take a look at some more stats between RCB and KXIP
RCB average score against KXIP: 159
KXIP average score against RCB: 157
Most runs for RCB: 690 (AB de Villiers)
Most runs for KXIP: 260 (Lokesh Rahul)
Most wickets for RCB: 20 (Yuzvendra Chahal)
Most wickets for KXIP: 4 (Murugan Ashwin)
Most catches for RCB: 13 (AB de Villiers)
Most catches for KXIP: 4 (Mandeep Singh)
Punjab will definitely be drawing motivation from their last meeting with Royal Challengers Bangalore when their skipper K L Rahul smashed his highest total of unbeaten in just 69 balls after he was dropped not once but twice by RCB’s skipper Virat Kohli.
Match Prediction: Given the form RCB is carrying with them and the past encounters between KXIP and RCB, we are inclined to say that RCB would emerge victorious in today’s fixture of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League.
