Karnataka players in limelight as RCB face Kings XI in IPL battle


By Denzil Fernandes

Sep 22: The sixth match in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 pits Kings XI Punjab against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Dubai Cricket Stadium on Thursday (24/9) evening.

RCB won their first match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Monday last while Kings XI lost their match against Delhi Capitals in the ‘super over’. With all teams equally balanced, every single encounter is crucial for teams to enter the playoff stage.

Very interestingly, Kings XI, Kumble, Kohli, KL and Royals from Bengaluru are all slotted against one another where most of the Karnataka players will battle to prove their worth for their respective teams in the IPL.

In fact, there are several Karnataka players in various franchises in the IPL. They are KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Krishnappa Gowtham, Suchith Jagadeesha, Mayank Agarwal for Kings XI Punjab. Devdutt Padikkal and Pavan Deshpande for Royal Challengers, Bengaluru, Prasidh Krishna for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Shreyas Gopal and Aniruddha Joshi for Rajasthan Royals and Manish Pandey for SR Hyderabad. Then there is Karnataka’s former wicketkeeper-batsman Robin Uthappa who is with Rajasthan Royals this year after being with (KKR) for so many years. Mention must be made of Mayank Agarwal (Kings XI) and Devdutt Padikkal (RCB) who batted beautifully and scored heavily for their respective teams.

Karnataka's presence in the ongoing IPL is praiseworthy. First and foremost, of course, is K L Rahul who is captaining the Kings XI Punjab side this time. Rahul started his cricket in Mangaluru before migrating to Bengaluru to get more opportunities to perform at a higher level and eventually a chance to play for the national side. Rahul has excelled as a very fine opening batsman and is also capable of keeping wickets. Sooner than later, one expects the young man to lead India. His elevation as the captain for the Punjab side is not a surprise and his performance will be closely watched by the Indian selectors. He has an admirable ally in former India captain Anil Kumble who also is from Karnataka. Kumble is the head coach for Kings XI Punjab and will be keen to lift the IPL-13 crown in the UAE.

Kumble was earlier with RCB Bangalore and later with Mumbai Indians apart from being the coach of the Indian cricket team for a year. The new assignment with Kings XI Punjab will be crucial for Kumble. Apart from Rahul, Kumble will also be guiding his state’s own players like Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, J Suchith and Krishnappa Gowtham. Each and every Karnataka player is in the Punjab side with a specific duty as directed by coach Kumble.

Batsman Mayank and all-rounder Gowtham are expected to play prominent roles for Punjab. Overseas players like Chris Gayle, Cottrell, Pooran, Maxwell, Chris Jordan and Neesham add plenty of variety for Rahul’s side. Maxwell, especially, has been in great form for Australia in England recently and if he clicks Rahul’s task will be made easier. Then there is Chris Gayle who is almost at the end of his great career. If Gayle and Rahul plunder runs as openers, Kings XI may post a record total which will be difficult to overtake. In the 2014 IPL, Kings XI was close to winning the trophy before falling to KKR in the finals.

Playing against a Bengaluru-based side like Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) helmed by Virat Kohli is going to be exciting indeed. RCB, on paper at least, looks a superior side to Kings XI Punjab. Kohli has seasoned overseas players like A B De Villiers, Aaron Finch, Moeen Ali, Adam Zampa, Chris Morris, Dale Steyn and Joshua Philippe who will be a handful for Punjab. Kohli alone is capable of amassing runs at will with other Indians like Gurkeerat Mann and young all-rounder Washington Sundar. An experienced bowler like Chahal may be a success on the slow turning tracks in the UAE supported by Umesh Yadav, Saini and Siraj.

Surely, RCB has an edge over the Punjab outfit with loads of experience with them. However, RCB has never risen above the required level and is yet to win the prestigious IPL trophy. This is a great opportunity for Kohli’s lads who have an experienced coach in Mike Hesson supported by Australia’s proven Simon Katich.

In their first match against Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab literally handed over the game after dominating pretty nicely. Against Kohli’s men on Thursday, it will be no easy task. This will be one royal battle between two promising sides who are trying to etch their name on the IPL trophy for the first time ever.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli (Captain), A B de Villiers, Gurkeerat Mann, Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Dale Steyn, Isuru Udana, Moeen Ali, Pawan Negi, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Adam Zampa, Chris Morris, Pavan Deshpande Parthiv Patel, Joshua Philippe, Shahbaz Ahamad. Head Coach: Mike Hesson.

Kings XI Punjab: K L Rahul (Captain), Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, Mandeep Singh, Sheldon Cottrell, Ishan Porel, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Arshdeep Singh, Hardus Viljoen, M Ashwin, J Suchith, Harpreet Brar, Darshan Nalkande, Glenn Maxwell, James Neesham, Chris Jordan, Krishnappa Gowtham, Deepak Hooda, Tajinder Singh Dhillon, Nicholas Pooran, Prabhsimran Singh. Head Coach: Anil Kumble.

  

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Title: Karnataka players in limelight as RCB face Kings XI in IPL battle



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