IPL 2020, CSK vs KXIP: Deepak Hooda Finishes With 30-Ball 62 To Propel Kings XI Punjab To 153/6 At Abu Dhabi

IPL 2020, Chennai vs Punjab match today in UAE: If Chennai Super Kings manages to win today, they might not finish at the bottom of the points table, while it is very important for Kings XI Punjab to win this match to reach the playoffs. After winning this match, Punjab will get a place in the playoffs based on the run rate.

Photo: @IPL (Twitter)

Sensational bowling from CSK's ace bowler Lungi Ngidi restricted Punjab to 153/6 on Sunday at Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Kings XI Punjab got a decent start from its openers as they stitched a solid 48-run opening stand to put their team on top but Lungi Ngidi's double-strike to remove Agarwal and then skipper Rahul, pegged back Punjab in their innings. The CSK bowlers never gave KXIP a chance to pull themselves back in the match as they continued to lose quick wickets, failing to get a good partnership. Punjab batters let their team down in the must-win clash and have been restricted at a below par total. Only Deepak Hooda (30-ball 62) managed to stand tall amidst the ruins as he scored his second IPL fifty to keep is team alive. If Chennai Super Kings manages to win today, they might not finish at the bottom of the points table, while it is very important for Kings XI Punjab to win this match to reach the playoffs. After winning this match, Punjab will get a place in the playoffs based on the run rate. Fifth-placed Kings XI Punjab lost the toss against MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings in a must-win encounter in the day game. CSK opted to bowl first against KXIP in their final league stage game. Kings XI Punjab have got to a decent start. Lungi Ngidi got the much needed maiden breakthrough for team in his first over as he cleaned up Mayank Agarwal for 26 to Kings XI Punjab's 48-run opening stand. 'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle was the new man in and joined KL Rahul in the middle with not KXIP going steady with a pretty decent scoring rate above 8. At the end of the powerplay KXIP managed to reach 53 for loss of just one wicket. At halfway stage, Lungi Ngidi struck for the second time with a brilliant slower ball as he foxed KXIP skipper KL to get him clean bowled for 29. Punjab now relied on Gayle magic. Things turned from bad to worse for Punjab after Nicholas Pooran edged a delivery off Shardul Thakur straight into the hands of MS Dhoni behind the stumps. Veteran leggie Imran Tahir got his maiden wicket in the IPL by trapping Universe Boss Chris Gayle for just 12 in front of the stumps for an LBW. Gayle had scored 99 in his last match but today he failed to deliver with the bat in the must-win clash. With this, CSK were on top now and in complete control of the match with the scoreboard reading 72-4 Mandeep soon fell to Ravindra Jadeja and James Neesham was dismissed by Lungi Ngidi after which Chris Jordan stuck on with Hooda. The pair put up 40 runs for the seventh wicket, 34 off which was scored by Hooda off just 12 balls. He hit three fours and four sixes in his innings. Brief scores: KXIP 153/6 in 20 overs (Deepak Hooda 62 not out, KL Rahul 29; Lungi Ngidi 3/39) Chennai vs Punjab Head to Head: So far 22 matches have been played in the IPL between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab, in which 13 times CSK and 9 times Punjab have been successful in winning the game. CSK has been dominant in their last 6 matches against Punjab. Chennai has beaten Punjab 4 times in the last 6 matches. When these two teams clashed for the first time in IPL 2020, CSK registered a big win over Punjab by 10 wickets. Playing XI (Both Teams) CSK: Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c & wk), N Jagadeesan, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir KKR: KL Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Mandeep Singh, James Neesham, Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan, Murugan Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami