IPL 2020 has completed the half-way stage in the tournament with all teams playing seven matches and the fight for the play-offs has only intensified. Three teams are tied on 10 points while two teams are level on six points making it a closely fought battle.
IPL 2020 has completed the half-way stage with the end of the game between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday. All teams have played seven games apiece and the tournament now officially enters the business end where most of the teams aim to seal their spot in the knock-out stages. Royal Challengers Bangalore, led by Virat Kohli, are in a magnificent position and firmly in the mix for the race after inflicting a massive 82-run win against Kolkata Knight Riders in Sharjah.
Riding on the back of AB de Villiers’ magnificent, unbeaten 73, Royal Challengers Bangalore notched up 194/2 and Kolkata Knight Riders were undone by a disciplined bowling performance from Navdeep Saini, Chris Morris and Yuzvendra Chahal to suffer a massive loss.
The result has made the race for the top four spots even more intense. Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore are tied on 10 points apiece while Kolkata Knight Riders are in the fourth spot with eight points. However, what will worry Dinesh Karthik’s team is that both Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals are on six points.
The clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings now assumes huge importance for Kolkata Knight Riders. If Sunrisers Hyderabad win, the Kolkata Knight Riders slip to fifth and their next clash is against a team they have not had much success against and that is four-time champions Mumbai Indians.
Purple and Orange Cap holders
There is basically no change in the Orange Cap race with KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and Faf du Plessis still occupying the top three spots. However, Jasprit Bumrah and his Mumbai Indians’ counterpart Trent Boult are level on the number of wickets while Rashid Khan of Sunrisers Hyderabad and Yuzvendra Chahal of Royal Challengers Bangalore are now firmly in the mix with 10 wickets. However, Kagiso Rabada is still at the top of the mountain and it will take a supreme effort from the other bowlers to topple the South Africa pacer.
Orange Cap (top three)
KL Rahul (Kings XI Punjab): M – 7 R – 387, Average – 64.5, Strike-rate – 134.84
Mayank Agarwal (Kings XI Punjab): M – 7, R – 337, Average: 48.14, Strike-rate – 158.96
Faf du Plessis (Chennai Super Kings): M – 7, R – 307, Average – 61.4, Strike-rate – 147.6
Purple Cap (top three)
Kagiso Rabada (Delhi Capitals): M – 7, Wickets – 17, Average – 12.53
Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians): M – 7, Wickets – 11, Average – 20.18
Trent Boult (Mumbai Indians): M – 7, Wickets – 11, Average – 19.91
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 "Virat Kohli RCB IPL 2020 vs KKR")
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