IPL 2020: Kings Eleven Punjab Lock Horns With Kolkata Knight Riders In Battle To Secure Play-Off Spot

The IPL 2020 match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Kings Eleven Punjab (KXIP) is scheduled to commence at 7:30 pm (IST) with the toss slated to be held at 7 pm (IST).

Kings Eleven Punjab Openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal

The 46th league encounter in the thirteenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020 will witness Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) taking on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah (UAE). The KKR vs KXIP IPL 2020 match is scheduled to commence at 7:30 pm (IST) with the toss slated to be held at 7 pm (IST). Both KKR and KXIP are very much in contention for a play-off berth given where they currently stand in the points table. While fourth place KKR are on just two points adrift from the league leaders MI, DC and RCB, KXIP are a place below with 10 points courtesy five wins in the season. Kings Eleven Punjab (KXIP) have turned around a horrid start  to their Season 13 campaign by stitching together four wins on the trot and have revived their hopes of making it to the knockouts. Kings Eleven Punjab (KXIP) edged Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their last match to climb to the fifth spot and draw closer to the league leaders. Despite putting a paltry 126/7 on board, KXIP managed a win, thanks to their bowlers, who stepped up at the right time. KXIP have been faring really well with the bat and have shed off their over dependency on their ever consistent pair of KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal. With Chris Gayle chipping in with decent contributions at 3 and power hitters Nicholas Pooran producing some fiery cameos, they look collectively good as a batting unit. The KXIP bowling unit has also seemed to found its mojo with both the seamers and spinners complimenting their stellar efforts. With Mohammad Shami being among the wickets , youngster Arshdeep has shown tremendous control in the middle overs and death specialist Chris Jordan is excelling in his role towards the end. Kolkata Knight Riders come into the game on the back of a massive 59-run over a formidable Delhi Capitals outfit. KKR's win over DC came after they were handed a routing by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). While KKR will be satisfied with the form of opener Shubman Gill and Nitish Rana, the middle order needs in skipper Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell to step up and deliver the goods with the willow. Windies spin allrounder Sunil Narine, who missed few games, made an impressive comeback in the last win against Delhi Capitals by  playing crucial 64-run knock down the order. The KKR seam attack of Pat Cummins, Lockie Ferguson, Prasidh Krishna and Kamlesh Nagarkoti have been bowling with pace and control off late. All eyes shall once again be on KKR spinner Varun Chakravarthy (5/20), who turned out to be the game changer for his side with a five wicket haul against Delhi Capitals. The Knights have good depth in their spin armoury with experienced Windies spinner Sunil Narine and left arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav. Here are the full squads for the IPL 2020 encounter between Kings Eleven Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders: Kings XI Punjab: KL Rahul (Captain), Harpreet Brar, Ishan Porel, Mandeep Singh, James Neesham, Tajinder Singh, Chris Jordan, Karun Nair, Deepak Hooda, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sarfaraz Khan, Sheldon Cottrell, Mayank Agarwal, Mohammed Shami, Darshan Nalkande, Nicholas Pooran, Chris Gayle, Murugan Ashwin, Jagadeesha Suchith, Krishnappa Gowtham, Hardus Viljoen, Simran Singh Kolkata Knight Riders: Eoin Morgan (Captain), Shubman Gill, NitishRana, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Andre Russell, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Pat Cummins, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Tom Banton, Siddhesh Lad, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Prasidh Krishna, Sandeep Warrior, Shivam Mavi, Rinku Singh, Chris Green, M Siddharth and Nikhil Naik