Do-or-die for Rajasthan Royals as they take on confident Kings XI Punjab

The Rajasthan Royals need a win. Anything else will end up in elimination from the tournament. But, they will be up against a Punjab team who are running on a hot streak in the Dream11 IPL 2020. With a playoff spot that looked highly improbable a couple of weeks ago now well within reach, the Kings XI will take the field riding high on confidence.

How much of a difference a couple of weeks can make. Kings XI Punjab who had just lost a game to the Kolkata Knight Riders having dominated nearly 38 overs of the game, only to implode in the last couple of overs. Sitting last on the points table, they were up against RCB, and nearly managed to tie the game from a similar situation, but only this time they managed to huff and puff over the line. That win seemed to have just broken a mental barrier for the Kings XI, who since then have gone 4 more games unbeaten, and now sit as the favorites to finish 4th gaming all their competitors.

The arrival of Chris Gayle, much like the impact he had for RCB back in 2011 seems to have added that extra punch the Kings XI needed. The confidence a player like Gayle brings to the team is invaluable, and Kings have certainly benefited - five wins out of five since he has become a regular member of the Starting 11 further substantiating the theory. Add to Gayle at No.3, the orange cap holder KL Rahul, the injured Mayank Agarwal due to return to the fold anytime, and Nicholas Pooran on either side and Kings have a scary top four. The two leg-spinners along with Mohammed Shami have made a massive difference to the Kings' bowling.

Rajasthan Royals seemed to have finally got their Ben Stokes back. Despite repeated criticism over Stokes being asked to open, the Royals stuck to their guns, and it paid massive dividends. Stokes’s century against the table-toppers Mumbai Indians and the return to form of Sanju Samson will be a boost for the team which lacked inspiration. With nothing less than a win to keep them alive, Rajasthan will be hoping their big guns fire again.

Rahul Tewatia has been one of the most heartwarming stories of Dream11 IPL 2020, and it all started when these two teams faced off in Sharjah earlier in the season. Struggling to put bat to ball, and after being stuck in the middle with a feeling of indomitable gloom, Tewatia picked himself back up and downed the Kings XI Punjab with a knock which will be remembered for ages in the history of the IPL. Although this fixture will be played on the larger outfields of Abu Dhabi, Rajasthan Royals will be confident going into the game that they can pull off another win, the venue at which they chased down 196 in their previous game. Winning is a habit they say, and the Kings XI just need to keep the habit going.