Another weekend of Indian Premier League doubleheaders awaits fans who can look forward to six matches in four days.
With the log tightly packed after a rollercoaster start, there aren’t any teams that are out of the running although, there will be plenty looking for marked improvements.
Photo Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
Saturday 10 October 2020 | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | 12:00
To Win Match
Kings XI Punjab 5/4
Tie 25/1
Kolkata Knight Riders 67/100
The Kings XI Punjab will start this match rooted to the bottom of the IPL table having collected just one win in six games. The Kolkata Knight Riders will play their sixth match on Saturday and already have three wins in the bank.
Pat Cummins has proven to be worth his fee with a number of match-winning spells being produced by KKR’s Aussie quick.
Mohammad Shami has led the Kings XI attack with aplomb, but he needs some backup from the batsmen and support bowlers.
The Kings XI remain reliant on KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal and will be keen to get Chris Gayle into the fray sooner rather than later.
KKR have struggled for top-order consistency with young Shubman Gill carrying out the anchor role, Sunil Narine has been shifted into the middle-order in yet another role change for the versatile West Indies veteran.
Verdict: Kolkata Knight Riders (67/100)
Saturday 10 October 2020 | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai | 16:00
To Win Match
Chennai Super Kings 21/20
Tie 25/1
Royal Challengers Bangalore 82/100
Chennai Super Kings need to summon their legendary champions spirit to kickstart their stuttering IPL campaign in Saturday’s second match.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore had begun to get into a winning habit until they were blown off the park chasing a big score from the Capitals at this same venue.
Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers are key to RCB’s hopes but young Indian batsman Devdutt Padikkal has outscored the legends so far, strengthening RCB’s already strong batting unit.
Death bowling remains a concern for RCB while CSK’s lack of explosive batsmen to execute the finish could give Kohli’s charges a free pass.
Faf du Plessis has been the rock for Chennai, providing the anchor for an assault that all too often just has not materialised. Sam Curran has played some blazing cameos, but MS Dhoni’s legendary finishing powers have seemingly abandoned him.
Verdict: Royal Challengers Bangalore (82/100)
Sunday 11 October 2020 | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai | 12:00
To Win Match
Sunrisers Hyderabad 72/100
Tie 25/1
Rajasthan Royals 9/10
Sunrisers Hyderabad 72/100
Tie 25/1
Rajasthan Royals 9/10
The clash between the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Rajasthan Royals promises some serious fireworks.
Jonny Bairstow and David Warner have formed a potent partnership at the top for the Sunrisers while the Royals have used the odd couple of Steve Smith and Jos Buttler to get them rolling.
Jofra Archer is back to his best T20 form for the Royals and gives Smith great tactical flexibility whether they are in the field first or defending a target.
The Sunrisers have had to cope with injuries to Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mitch Marsh, but Rashid Khan has put the fear into opponents particularly at the more extensive grounds.
Verdict: Sunrisers Hyderabad (72/100)
Sunday 11 October 2020 | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | 16:00
To Win Match
Mumbai Indians 82/100
Tie 25/1
Delhi Capitals 21/20
The Delhi Capitals have started well and fallen off the pace plenty of times before and they face a side who have started slowly and won the title on more than one occasion in the Mumbai Indians.
This will be an examination of the Capitals playoff credentials as Kagiso Rabada, and Anrich Nortje will be tasked with getting the better of their Proteas T20I skipper Quinton de Kock and India kingpin Rohit Sharma.
Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult and James Pattinson have formed a lethal pace trio responsible for 20 wickets across the Mumbai Indians first six matches.
Shreyas Iyer has taken to the captaincy of the Capitals like a duck to water and leads the run-scoring for his team, backed up by Prithvi Shaw and Marcus Stoinis.
Verdict: Delhi Capitals (21/20)
Monday 12 October 2020 | Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah | 16:00
To Win Match
Royal Challengers Bangalore TBA
Tie TBA
Kolkata Knight Riders TBA
RCB and KKR will spend their rest day travelling to Sharjah for what should be another high-scoring shootout.
This match shapes up to be a bowlers nightmare with plenty of six-hitting potential on both sides. RCB will have some task in containing the Knight Riders who should look to get Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell into the game to pulverise the bowling.
Kohli and De Villiers are adept at running between the wickets, but both can clear the fence making their wickets key for KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik.
Yuzvendra Chahal has bowled well but will be tested by the dimensions of the Sharjah Stadium ground and could be targeted for punishment.
Verdict: Kolkata Knight Riders
Tuesday 13 October | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | 16:00
To Win Match
Sunrisers Hyderabad TBA
Tie TBA
Chennai Super Kings TBA
In two previous matches in Abu Dhabi, CSK first succeeded in chasing 160-odd before falling short in pursuit of a similar target.
CSK are the only side to successfully chase a target of more than 160 at the venue where scoreboard pressure plays a big part in proceedings.
The Sunrisers learned their Abu Dhabi lesson after being comfortably beaten by the Knight Riders in their first match at the venue. The Sunrisers did not assess the surface very well, and their modest 142 was easily hauled in.
These teams should now have come to grips with the character of the ground, but the Sunrisers have more strikers in their lineup which could swing the match in their favour.
Verdict: Sunrisers Hyderabad
