If the top three of the points table can manage to secure their places, the fourth line may have some dynamic change. If calculated, for the last few days, Kolkata Knight Riders are occupying the spot with no general reason. They are playing well, they are playing nothing more than average and they are getting out scoring 84 only. So it was like a traffic jam at that level. Against Delhi, they came to defend the reason and made SRH and KXIP to fight the run.

With the hangover of poor batting display against RCB, they lost the toss and were sent to bat first against Delhi. As a repetition of RCB match, they lost Subhman, Tripathi and Karthik in a hurry. For Rana, it was a fantastic innings and Sunil Narine’s knock was Narine like. In the middle, the duo showed that they were out with a plan. But to fall back upon Narine to carry out that task was a draw-back out of such domination.

For Kings XI Punjab, with Mayank Agarwal missing out, they lost quick wickets including Henry Gayle. As I said in my last article Kings XI Punjab: A Late-Season Analysis, Maxwell again failed. With only 126 to defend, they created pressure on Hyderabad’s off-form middle order and snatched a close contest to their favour that time.

At Sharjah, Kolkata lost two in two and it is easy to work out. They never utilised the short boundary to post or chase a huge score. Punjab, on the contrary, successfully used the ground twice and once for winning cause. So at Sharjah, Punjab will be a little ahead of KKR.

Though the middle order has got a balance with Narine’s return, the top order of KKR is still looking for a long partnership. Subhman Gill and Tripathi are very inconsistent. Karthik is also out of form. Morgan has the ability to play big shots and he mustn’t undermine his position.

For Punjab, the case is just the opposite. With a gigantic top order, they are suffering from a weak lower middle order. Among Rahul, Agarwal, Gayle and Pooran, anyone can take the game away from the opposition single- handedly. Any crumbling at the top getting stretched to almost lower middle order.

Punjab have a mixed bowling unit. While Shami has a great hand, Jordan is trying hard to keep his rhythm okay. Arshdeep is also keeping it wicket to wicket. M. Ashwin and Bishnoi are very tight in the middle.

KKR have a better bowling group than Punjab’s. Ferguson included in the playing XI has strengthened the pace attack. Narine back to the side ensures 8 overs of spin bowling along with Chakravarthy. Pat Cummins is a regular powerplay pacer and he must continue three at a stretch.

As there is enough chance of dew in the second half, it’ll be better to chase. But both KXIP and KKR failed to handle the nerve-jangling situations while chasing. So the side which will win the toss may bat first. But it’ll be very unfair not to remind you that CSK and Rajasthan chased down comfortably yesterday. Mayank Agarwal may back to the side and KKR may also have a change in the bowling unit.