There are four matches left in the Indian Premier League regular season and the first of those forms the opening part of the double header of action on Sunday when the Chennai Super Kings meet the Kings XI Punjab in what is a huge game for the latter.
The equation is simple for the Kings XI Punjab here. If they win the match they are guaranteed a spot in the postseason. If they lose then they will join the Chennai Super Kings on the sofa watching on as the title gets decided.
Chennai Super Kings
It happens all the time that when a team has the pressure taken off them when the competitive element of a season has disappeared and that is certainly what looks like has happened to the Chennai Super Kings who after a wretched campaign overall have won their last two matches and will be looking to put a spanner in the works of a third successive side having just done likewise to the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Kolkata Knight Riders.
The big difference for the Chennai side is they are suddenly batting a lot better. That is very much the pressure being off them which has attributed to their improvement in that department but if they can find one more decent batting effort then they are entitled to think they can land a third straight win. One thing they just need to keep tabs on is their death bowling. You get the impression it could be hit or miss.
Kings XI Punjab
The Kings XI Punjab have had a weird campaign of their own. They won one of their first seven matches then won the next five but saw that run halted in fine style by the Rajasthan Royals last time out and now they are left with what is basically a quarter final to make it through to the play-offs. The good thing for them is the equation is simple for them. If they win the match they will be in the postseason so they only need to focus on that.
You get the impression that this Kings XI batting is suddenly booked in for a big score. KL Rahul is a machine with the bat while Chris Gayle is batting line a man possessed. As ever the doubt comes in the form of the bowling attack. The good thing for them is that this is a day game so they don’t need to worry about the dew which apparently caused issues last time out. The big concern is they have played three matches on this ground and lost the lot.
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Key Men
The presence of Ruturaj Gaikwad shouldn’t be underestimated in this improvement in the Chennai Super Kings batting and if he can set up a platform for the bigger hitters down the order to maximise then the former champions will be in a good place.
Whenever he is on a cricket pitch there is so much attention on Chris Gayle but if he gets going again here he could set the game up for the Kings XI Punjab on his own. Make no mistake bowlers are still petrified at bowling to him and if he gets in this could be a long day for the Super Kings.
Betting
At no stage in any sport should you fall into the trap of thinking must win equals will win but I do actually think that the Kings XI Punjab will get the win that they need here. They are playing some great cricket at the minute and I’m prepared to give them their last defeat as they are pretty adamant that the dew did them no favours in the field. We’ll probably only find out in this match how true that was but their form was very good up until then.
Even then they were beaten by a wonderful run chase from the Rajasthan Royals, one I’m not convinced the Chennai Super Kings have the capability to produce here. Chennai do need to be respected because they are in the nice position of not playing for anything but that only means that if the Kings XI get well on top they will have the opportunity to power to victory. Whether its tight or by a wide margin I like the Kings XI here.
Tips
Back Kings XI Punjab to beat Chennai Super Kings for a 3/10 stake at 1.80 with William Hill
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