This is sort of game that you would do everything to watch – an eliminator before the playoffs. Rising Pune Supergiant versus Kings XI Punjab, the team that wins this game goes to the playoffs. It starts at 4 pm today, so make sure you don’t go anywhere this Sunday afternoon!
The last time the two teams played, Sandeep Sharma and Axar Patel of Kings XI bowled brilliantly and captain Glenn Maxwell smashed 44 not out off 20 balls as they won an easy six-wicket win in Indore. It might be different this time around though, as Pune have a lot of in-form players, especially the incomparable Ben Stokes, who bats, bowls and fields like a superstar.
[table id=35 /]
The last three games have seen Rising Pune Supergiant lose to Delhi Daredevils by seven runs, while beating much bigger teams such as Sunrisers Hyderabad by 12 runs and Kolkata Knight Riders by four wickets.
Kings XI Punjab have been just brilliant – they have won their last two games, beating the big boys of the IPL, Mumbai Indians by seven runs and Kolkata Knight Riders by 14 runs. They win this match too, then they are through to the playoffs. This is a remarkable performance from them.
For this match, Kings XI are without Eoin Morgan, Hashim Amla and David Miller. Rising Pune Supergiant are without Faf du Plessis and Imran Tahir. All of these players have gone to play for their respective national teams. Ben Stokes has been granted a special exemption from the England team management to play the rest of the IPL, which is very kind of them.
So who will win? It’s hard to tell. Pune have bigger players but Kings XI play better as a team. Anything is possible, so just turn your TV on at 4 PM this evening and have fun!
The Teams
Rising Pune Supergiant: 1 Rahul Tripathi, 2 Ajinkya Rahane, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 Manoj Tiwary, 5 MS Dhoni (wk), 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Dan Christian, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Adam Zampa
Kings XI Punjab: 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Manan Vohra, 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 Glenn Maxwell (capt), 5 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 6 Axar Patel, 7 Rahul Tewatia, 8 Swapnil Singh, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Mohit Sharma, 11 Sandeep Sharma
Watch Rising Pune Supergiant play Kings XI Punjab tonight at 4 pm on Sony Six!
