KL Rahul states KXIP is a far better team than what the IPL points table is showing

On Thursday, Kings XI Punjab defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by eight wickets and earned their much-need success. This win is helping them to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The victory was only the second win for KXIP in eight games this IPL 2020 season.

Chasing the tricky target of 172 runs, KXIP crossed the goal on the final ball of the match. Their in-form openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal added 78 runs for the first wicket. RCB bowler, Yuzvendra Chahal dismissed Agarwal for 45 and broke the partnership.

KL Rahul and Chris Gayle at that point carried on scoring fifties to set the stage for a simple win. However, the last over of the innings brought some twists for the team. Yuzvendra Chahal came to bowl in the final over of the match and KXIP needed only 2 runs to win the match. However, in the first four balls of the over, Gayle and Rahul could manage just 1 run. Then Gayle was run-out. Nicholas Pooran came down to bat and hit a six on the last ball to secure a win for KXIP.

Earlier in the match, Royal Challengers Bangalore posted 171 for 6 in the allotted 20 overs after Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first. Openers Devdutt Padikkal and Aaron Finch added 38 runs for the first before the former departed for 18. Virat Kohli was the top-scorer with 48 off 39 deliveries for the team.

KL Rahul’s reaction after the win

Chatting after the game, KXIP's captain KL Rahul said he had no clue regarding how the game went so close in the end. He further claimed that the position of his team in the points table doesn’t mirror their quality.

“I have no idea, it’s (heart beat) the highest it can be. I don’t even have words. We knew we had to scrape and get over the line. We are a far better side than where we are in the points table. It just got too close for comfort, happy that we crossed the line,” said KL Rahul.

“As a group, we have been disappointing. It can get frustrating. Our skills were good, but we didn’t capitalize on the big moments. It becomes a habit – winning and not winning. There are ups and downs and this has been the roller-coaster. We wanted this win to get some confidence in the group. It’s my first time as captain, for me it’s always about winning. The personal performances haven’t been on mind too much,” he added.

KL Rahul also revealed about Gayle and stated that he wanted him to play in IPL 2020 from the beginning of the season.

“He’s (Gayle) not been feeling well in the last couple of weeks. But, he is hungry even at 41. He always wanted to play from the first day. He was training hard, he wanted be out on the park. It was a tough call to make and not make him play. It’s important to keep the lion hungry. Wherever he bats, he’s dangerous. He’s taken it up as a challenge as well. He’ll still be intimidating,” said Rahul.

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