Last Updated on 6 years ago by Charbel Coorey

IPL 2020 Match 9: RR vs KXIP Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RR vs KXIP Dream11 Prediction Today | Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report

Two teams who haven’t achieved the things they would have liked in IPL cricket. Two teams who are looking to right the wrongs of the last few years in particular. An intriguing match awaits at the high-scoring Sharjah, between two teams who have made promising starts to their respective IPL 2020 campaigns.

Rajasthan Royals, led by Sanju Samson’s incredible six-hitting, flayed CSK’s bowlers to all parts. With their opponents, Kings XI Punjab, having their own death bowling concerns, the Royals will know that a strong start, with wickets in hand at the death, could translate into a big total. Even better, they welcome back the brilliant Jos Buttler, who has been superb as an opener in IPL cricket. So, the big questions will be whether their batting lineup can repeat the carnage against CSK, as well as whether the bowlers can contain the opposition.

And, the opposition is headlined by the magnificent KL Rahul. In the highest ever individual score by an Indian in IPL history, Rahul made a mockery of RCB’s bowlers, flaying them to all parts of the larger Dubai International Stadium. So, the move to the small outfield of Sharjah is a warning shot in itself for the Royals’ bowlers, who will be out to see the back of Rahul as quickly as possible. But, KXIP’s powerful middle order has the potential to also cause carnage. Can that middle order, which has underwhelmed so far, deliver in batting-friendly conditions? Will KXIP bring in Chris Gayle for Sharjah? Also, can KXIP’s bowlers contain RR’s own big hitters, particularly at the death?

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Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• Sanju Samson hit 74 off 32 balls on this ground a few nights ago. Also, Samson has the most runs in RR-KXIP out of the players in the two current squads (273, avg. 39.00). Key player.
• Eyes will be on KL Rahul. Coming off a record-breaking 132* (69) vs RCB, Rahul comes up against a side whom he has 235 runs against when playing for KXIP. The 235 are the most for any current KXIP player against RR.
• Chris Gayle enjoyed playing against RR last season. He struck 30 (22) and 79 (47) against them in IPL 2019.
• Welcome back Jos Buttler. Buttler has a fine record against KXIP, with 225 runs at an average of 56.25. This includes 23 (17) and 69 (43) in IPL 2019. Also, Buttler has a magnificent record as an IPL opener: 24 innings, 1,011 runs, avg. 45.95, SR 157.97.
• Steve Smith has performed well in T20 cricket over the past 12 months. In T20 Internationals during this period, Smith struck 281 runs at an average of 56.20, SR 149.74. Also, he is coming off a strong performance vs CSK: 69 off 47 balls.
• Mayank Agarwal has looked in excellent touch in IPL 2020 (89 off 60 balls & 26 off 20 balls).
• Glenn Maxwell has had a quiet start to IPL 2020, but returns to a ground where he has enjoyed success. In two IPL knocks at Sharjah, Maxwell has hit two fifties (95 and 89).
• Jofra Archer will be key with the ball for RR. He has taken 11 wickets in his last seven matches across formats, and also showed he can hit a long ball (four sixes last match). Also, he has five wickets in four matches vs KXIP.
• Can Murugan Ashwin and the impressive Ravi Bishnoi perform at Sharjah? It is not an easy ground for spinners, but both are coming off three wickets in their last match.
• Sheldon Cottrell will be key for KXIP in both the powerplay and death overs. He has four wickets in two matches so far in IPL 2020, at an economy rate of under six.
• Rahul Tewatia took 3/37 on this ground vs CSK. He and Shreyas Gopal, who has four wickets in 9.1 overs vs KXIP, will be key.
• Mohammed Shami so far in IPL 2020: 3/15 (4) and 1/15 (3). Can he improve on his bowling average of 39 and economy rate of 8.23 vs RR?

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 19, RR 10, KXIP 9.
• Kings XI Punjab have won four of their last five matches against Rajasthan Royals.
• Chris Gayle has a strike rate of over 200 vs legspinners since IPL 2018. RR have two in their lineup – Rahul Tewatia and Shreyas Gopal.
• Jofra Archer’s best IPL figures of 3/15 came against KXIP last season.
• KXIP have the best opening partnership of any team since IPL 2019 (avg. 50.8).

Possible Playing 11

Jos Buttler returns for RR. There is talk that he could bat at number four, but Rajasthan would be missing a significant opportunity if that proves to be the case. In 24 innings as an IPL opener, Buttler has hit 1,011 runs, at an avg. of 45.95, and SR 157.97. When he bats at four, this average drops to 23.75 (five innings). Number five is worse, with an average of 18.42 in 13 innings.

Rajasthan Royals: 1. Jos Buttler (wk), 2. Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3. Steve Smith (c), 4. Sanju Samson, 5. Robin Uthappa, 6. Riyan Parag, 7. Shreyas Gopal, 8. Jofra Archer, 9. Tom Curran, 10. Rahul Tewatia, 11. Jaydev Unadkat

KXIP will be tempted to play Chris Gayle on this ground. If so, Nicholas Pooran could be the overseas player to drop out, after an underwhelming start to IPL 2020. Also, KXIP have a decision to make regarding their final overseas slot: Jimmy Neesham, Mujeeb ur Rahman or Chris Jordan?

Kings XI Punjab: 1. KL Rahul, 2. Chris Gayle, 3. Mayank Agarwal, 4. Karun Nair, 5. Glenn Maxwell, 6. Sarfaraz Khan, 7. Jimmy Neesham/Mujeeb Ur Rahman/Chris Jordan, 8. Ravi Bishnoi, 9. Mohammed Shami, 10. Sheldon Cottrell, 11. M Ashwin

Sharjah Pitch and Weather Report

We could be in for another high scoring game, after RR and CSK both scored 200+ on this ground a few days ago. The pitch is expected to be a beauty for batting, and the short boundaries will be a challenge for the bowlers. For the spinners, the margin for error is very low, as deliveries that are too full or too short will disappear.

Dew could be a factor in the second innings, which may prompt the team who wins the toss to chase. The team batting first has won six of eight games so far in IPL 2020, including RR against CSK at Sharjah.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

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Match Prediction

This one promises to be full of fireworks. If KXIP’s powerful lineup fires, they will be hard to beat. However, if RR can take advantage of KXIP’s death bowling worries, they too will be difficult to beat. This one could come down to the sheer number of power hitters in each side, where KXIP just have the edge. KXIP to win in a tight one.

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