With the Kings XI Punjab on a two-match winning streak, the race for the playoffs has intensified as the final 3 spots on the table will be fought out between the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders and the Rising Pune Supergiant.
RPS began the season with a couple of wins but then suffered a series of defeats thus raising questions about an early elimination just like last year. However, they bounced back in style and are currently on a four-match winning streak and would look to make that five in a row as they face the Delhi Daredevils in an extremely important encounter at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi.
RPS would have their task cut out as they face an inspired Delhi Daredevils side who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat thanks to a magnificent knock by Shreyas Iyer in their previous encounter against the Gujarat Lions. If RPS come out on top today, they would secure their qualification to the playoffs.
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Apart from Iyer, youngsters like Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant have been extremely impressive and have hammered the opposition bowlers all around the park. With nothing left to play for, the Daredevils would look to play a fearless brand of cricket and give their fans something to cheer about with only two games left to go.
Ben Stokes, who has been the top performer for RPS over the past couple of matches may leave on May 14 for national duty and thus might be playing his final match in an RPS jersey today.
The Daredevils too will do without the services of their South African contingent who have flown back to their country.
Date: May 12
Venue: Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Time: 20:00 IST
If DD bat first
Prediction: 180+
The Kotla wicket has proved to be a batting paradise with quite a few 200+ scores being achieved since the beginning of the tournament. DD themselves chased down a total of 208 with 15 balls to spare and with 7 wickets in hand against the Gujarat Lions.
Sanju Samson and Karun Nair would look to give the side a great start and Iyer and Pant would look to continue the onslaught in the middle order. The foreigners Marlon Samuels, Corey Anderson and Carlos Brathwaite can provide a destructing finish towards the end of the innings.
If RPS bat first
Prediction: 170+
Rahul Tripathi has not been performing too well over the past few games and he would look to get back to form and give RPS a good start. Ajinkya Rahane too would look to up his scoring rate at the beginning of the innings. Smith would look to provide some stability in the middle order while the likes of Stokes and Dhoni would look to provide the finishing touch to the side.
Predicted winner: Delhi Daredevils. A win for DD could mean a virtual quarterfinal between RPS and KXIP on Sunday.
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