Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey

KXIP vs RR Preview Dream11. Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals Preview Dream11 Prediction

Ring the bell! It’s time for round two KXIP and RR go head-to-head in one of the unlikelier grudge matches in IPL 2019.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s infamous mankad to dismiss Jos Buttler caused plenty of reaction. It helped Kings XI Punjab initiate a collapse that allowed them to kick off their season with a win. Since then, they have been relatively steady, putting themselves right in with a chance of a playoffs appearance. However, the second half of the season is where they collapsed badly in IPL 2018, and they are now coming off two straight losses. Can they get back on track?

Rajasthan Royals, particularly Jos Buttler, will be looking forward to this one. There is the small matter of the mankad episode, but RR are coming off a big effort at the Wankhede, where they played with plenty of effort and energy to keep their playoffs hopes alive. However, their middle order is still cause for concern, nearly blowing what looked a certain victory vs MI. More changes imminent?

OnlineCricStore Blog: 3 ways to protect your cricket bat

Key to a KXIP win

RR have some middle order issues, and the same can be said of KXIP. After Chris Gayle’s outstanding onslaught, the middle then struggled for any impetus against an RCB side that has historically struggled at the death. KXIP were on track for 200 at home, but then stuttered, which is something they must avoid against an RR side that held its own in the middle overs in Mumbai. Can KL Rahul get back in the big runs after what seemed a rare failure? Will Gayle go big again? But, how well will the middle order fare?

Also, KXIP’s seamers were well off the pace vs RCB. With Jos Buttler striking at over 170 vs pace in IPL 2019, the onus is on KXIP’s seamers to display the level of control and precision required to dislodge RR’s opening pair, who complemented each other very well vs MI. Can KXIP make inroads early, paving the way for the spinners to target an up-and-down middle order?

Key to a RR win

RR’s bowlers held their own after an early MI onslaught on Saturday. However, they can’t afford to be poor against the in-form KL Rahul and Chris Gayle, who can take the game away in quick time. Jofra Archer has led the attack well in IPL 2019, and he will be key in making inroads. As mentioned, the KXIP middle order isn’t without its own issues, so RR will be keen to get the likes of Shreyas Gopal leading the way in the middle overs against an KXIP side working hard to build momentum. Can they get the better of the KXIP openers early, and then build on it?

Also, there was rightly plenty of talk about Jos Buttler’s brilliance in Mumbai. However, the performance of Ajinkya Rahane was crucial, as it allowed Jos Buttler to settle into his innings. The no-fear approach from Rahane is something he must repeat in Mohali, which then gives Buttler the freedom to play his way. However, who else will step up? Sanju Samson has it in him to deliver big, but questions remain about the middle order. If Steve Smith gets another chance, can he play with a little more fluency? What about Liam Livingstone if he gets another chance?

Possible Playing 11

Hardus Viljoen was out of the last game with illness. His replacement, AJ Tye, went for 40 in his four overs. If Viljoen is fit, he could come back in.

KXIP: 1. KL Rahul, 2. Chris Gayle, 3. Mayank Agarwal, 4. Sarfaraz Khan, 5. Mandeep Singh, 6. Nicholas Pooran (wk), 7. Sam Curran, 8. Ravichandran Ashwin (c), 9. Hardus Viljoen, 10. Mohammed Shami, 11. Murugan Ashwin

Also read: Do you bet? 1xBET have a special €10 risk-free bet especially for IPL 2019.

For RR, Ben Stokes missed the last game with injury. If fit, he could come back in for Liam Livingstone. Also, Ashton Turner could be given an opportunity ahead of Steve Smith. Despite this, I believe Australia were still right to pick Steve Smith in their World Cup squad.

RR: 1. Ajinkya Rahane (c), 2. Jos Buttler, 3. Sanju Samson (wk), 4. Steve Smith/Ashton Turner, 5. Liam Livingstone/Ben Stokes, 6. Rahul Tripathi, 7. Shreyas Gopal, 8. Jofra Archer, 9. K Gowtham, 10. Dhawal Kulkarni, 11. Jaydev Unadkat

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 18, KXIP 8, RR 10.
• In Mohali, it is locked at 3-3.
• Jos Buttler has four half-centuries in a row vs KXIP.
• KL Rahul needs six runs to reach 1,000 for KXIP. He has 994 runs in just 22 innings to date.

Match Prediction

A really interesting match in prospect.

Plenty depends on the top order of both these sides. Today, I just have the nagging feeling that RR will continue to build the momentum. We’ll see!

Thanks for reading!

Also read: Do you bet? 1xBET have a special €10 risk-free bet especially for IPL 2019.