Kings XI Punjab suffered a miserable defeat in their final home match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, on Monday. The men led by Virat Kohli have registered two back-to-back wins for the first time since 2016, when they had become the runners-up.

Five teams are now racing for the two remaining spots in the playoff stage as the teams out of the elite club have cranked into full gear to make it to the next round. All the five sides have two matches in hand to remain alive in the title race.

The two-point gap between third-placed KKR and RCB – who are in the seventh position currently – reflects the tight contest that has been going on the lucrative league.

A pitch that produced a total of 459 runs in the previous game between the hosts and Kolkata Knight Riders, saw KXIP bundle out for a paltry 88 runs, courtesy RCB’s disciplined bowling. Apart from the KXIP openers – who have been the pillars to KXIP’s success in the competition – only one batsman was able to get into the double digits.

Each of Mohammad Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Colin de Grandhomme, and Moeen Ali bagged a wicket while Umesh Yadav snared three. Three run outs in KXIP’s batting innings also showed how RCB’s bowling attack was turning the screws on the Punjab-based franchise to dismantle their batting line-up.

On the other hand, an unbeaten 92-run opening partnership from the Kohli-led camp was enough to prove how desperate and dominant they have become in order to stay in the race.

Virat Kohli’s 48 runs from 28 deliveries, stitched with Parthiv Patel’s 40 off 22, took the team past the finishing line with 11.5 overs to spare. Despite the 10-wicket victory, RCB haven’t been able to climb up the ladders but KXIP have been thrown down from the third place to the fifth spot.

RCB’s remaining challenges are against table-toppers—Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rajasthan Royals. And KXIP, who find themselves out of the safe zone all of a sudden, will face another playoff-berth contender Mumbai Indians, and already-qualified Chennai Super Kings in their remaining fixtures.

 

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