IPL 2017: RPS vs KXIP, 5 things that went wrong for Kings XI Punjab

The much-hyped contest between Rising Pune Supergiant and Kings XI Punjab ended up being an anti-climax as Punjab offered no resistance and lost the match by 9 wickets. Punjab displayed one of their worst batting performances as they were all out for only 73 runs. Pune chased the target in 12 overs and booked a place in the play-offs

With this abysmal performance, Punjab ended their IPL 2017 campaign on a bad note. On a day when nothing went in the favour of Punjab, the team management made some strategic blunders while awful performances by their star players added to the misery.

Here we look at the five things that went wrong for Punjab in this match and contributed to their humongous defeat.

#1 Guptill and Marsh’s failure to apply themselves on tricky pitch

The Pune pitch offered help for the bowlers, and hence, Steve Smith, after winning the toss, had no hesitation in opting to bowl first. On such a surface where batting was going to be difficult, the batsmen were expected to play with caution.

However, Martin Guptill, Punjab’s opening batsman, failed to apply himself on this wicket and perished on the first ball of the innings.

Undakat bowled the first delivery outside off stump and the New Zealand batsman played a loose shot which ended up being an easy catch to the fielder at short cover.

Shaun Marsh is a technically strong batsman and much was expected from him on this challenging surface but he too, failed to apply himself on this pitch. In the fourth over, he tried to hit Shardul Thakur on the up and was out caught by Smith at mid-off.

The failure of these two star batsmen to read the wicket exposed the vulnerable middle order of Punjab and ultimately led to their downfall.

#2 Eoin Morgan’s run out

With two wickets down within four overs, the last thing Punjab wanted was a run-out

After the loss of quick wickets at the top, Eoin Morgan had the responsibility to steer the innings as he has the experience as well as the skills. But the England batsman tried to steal a risky single and was run out by Unadkat.

With two wickets down within four overs, the last thing Punjab wanted was a run-out and that too of their most experienced middle order batsman. The single was a highly risky option but Morgan still went with it. He failed to anticipate Unadkat’s movements and was found out of his crease when the throw crashed his stumps.

#3 Promotion of Tewatia

The management promoted Rahul Tewatia in the batting order

It was a day when everything went against Kings XI. After losing three wickets inside the powerplay overs, the management promoted Rahul Tewatia in the batting order to counter-attack and to stall the momentum. However, the left-hand batsman lasted for only three balls.

He scored a boundary on the second ball he faced and then tried to attack Shardul Thakur. But to Punjab’s dismay, he mistimed his flick shot and gave an easy catch to Unadkat. He scored only four runs.

#4 Maxwell’s failure

Maxwell’s failure in the middle order further wrecked Punjab’s ship

Glenn Maxwell arrived in international cricket as a pinch-hitter but over the last few years, he has emerged as a complete batsman. Today was the perfect platform for the Punjab captain to stamp his identity as a reliable batsman.

With the team in trouble and a must-win game on hands, Maxwell had the best opportunity to play a memorable innings but the Australian batsman was out for a duck. He lasted only three balls and offered an easy catch to Rahane at deep square leg.

Maxwell’s failure in the middle order further wrecked Punjab’s batting order and the team went all down inside the 16th over.

#5 Playing with only five recognised batsmen

Maxwell’s tactics went wrong

Kings XI Punjab played a massive gamble of fielding a team with only five recognised batsmen in a match which was a must-win affair for them. This strategy backfired heavily as the team crumbled for only 73 runs.

The problem for Punjab was the fact that out of these five batsmen, three are not known for their solid technique and are famous for their big hitting abilities. Guptill, Morgan and Maxwell are not completely reliable batsmen and the ploy of banking on them went horribly wrong for Punjab.

The team may have benefited from having an extra batsman in the playing eleven who could have played the role of damage controller.