Preview: KXIP vs CSK

What
The Kings XI Punjab play for pride in their last match as they face the Chennai Super Kings in what is a must-win match for the men in yellow

When
Sunday, April 18, 4pm

Where
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, Dharamsala

The Protagonists

Mahela Jayawardene – His captain Kumar Sangakkara had seen Mahela Jayawardene at his fluid best when opening the innings for Wayamba during the recent Sri Lankan T20 tournament. So he decided to promote the right-hander up the order and the risk yielded massive dividends, reviving their semi-final hopes, albeit briefly. The Kings XI have been playing the role of party-spoiler for many teams, and will be looking to pull off another upset.

Doug Bollinger – Ravichandran Ashwin may be grabbing the headlines for his bowling and being an able deputy for Muttiah Muralitharan, but the southpaw from New South Wales has quietly been chipping in with vital wickets and terrific deliveries. Explosive pace and lethal swing are always a deadly combination, and a pitch like Dharamsala can be his very own hunting ground.

Head to head
The Kings XI have been Chennai’s punch bag in the past, losing four matches out of five against them. The last match had a different outcome, however, as the Kings XI forced the match to head into a super over and came out on top in the decider.

Previous Encounter
The last match for the Kings XI against Deccan Chargers was a case of ‘so close yet so far’, as they couldn’t hold their nerve and the match slipped out of their hands. The Super Kings failed with the bat and couldn’t keep the pressure on the Delhi Daredevils long enough to secure a much-needed victory against their northern counterparts.

What next?
Punjab has pride to play for and will want to script a win to send out a warning signal to their rivals ahead of IPL 4. For the Super Kings, this match is in some ways a quarter-final clash. A comprehensive win for the Super Kings would give them two crucial points and aid their net run-rate as they look to reach the semi-finals at the last possible moment.