IPL 2018 RR v KXIP: 5 player battles to look forward to between Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab

#1 Shreyas Gopal v KL Rahul

KL Rahul

KL Rahul’s 54-ball 84 in the last game was the difference between victory and defeat for RR and in tonight’s game, they must find a way to get him early. If he gets going again, then there is every chance that he will run away with the game. He has been in excellent form this season and has emerged as KXIP’s highest run-scorer this season, with a total of 376 runs in 9 games. He has recorded an average of 47 and is striking at a rate of 162.77. Those are incredible numbers, and a long innings from him almost guarantees a great batting effort from KXIP.

Something that RR could try is to get their leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal to bowl at Rahul during the Powerplay. Records suggest that the Indian batsman might be vulnerable to leg-spin. Dating back to the IPL in 2015, Rahul has been dismissed by leg-spinners in eight out of 15 games. Additionally, Gopal’s record against right-handed batsmen also suggests that it is going to be an engrossing battle of wits. The leg-spinner has got the better of right-handed batsmen in five out of the seven games.