IPL 2018 KXIP vs KKR: 5 player battles to look forward to between Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders

#4 KL Rahul v Kuldeep Yadav

Very few batsmen have been able to match up the sort of excellence that KL Rahul has brought to the KXIP top order and a large part of the success that the team has had as a batting unit is due to the scorching starts that he has provided them.

In his last two games, he looked in sublime form (84* and 95*) and he would like to carry that forward in the game against KKR. In the previous game, against the same opponents, he belted 60 off 27 (9 fours, 2 sixes) and helped KXIP canter to a win.

He will be the wicket KKR would be after in the game and the bowler who could be the man for the occasion is Kuldeep Yadav. In the previous game, Kuldeep bowled only 3 balls to Rahul and went for 6 runs (one boundary) and although it is a very small sample, it must be said that he did not get another go at him in the game.

The left-arm leg-spinner might be short on confidence due to the assault from Ishan Kishan in the previous game but he would love to bounce back by taking the wicket of his India team-mate. On the other hand, it is a new challenge for Rahul in the IPL and one he would like to win for sure.