Do-or-die game for Kings, Super Kings plays for pride

KXIP’s chances of a top four finish took a serious hit after Rajasthan Royals handed it a seven-wicket loss, snapping its impressive five match-winning streak.

The defeat means KXIP’s fate is not solely in its hands as even a win against CSK will not ensure it a play-off spot. The Punjab outfit will need other results to go its way.

On the other hand, CSK, already out of the reckoning for the first time ever, will aim to end its dismal campaign on a positive note. The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team, languishing at the bottom of the points table, heads in to the clash after notching up back-to-back wins over RCB and Kolkata Knight Riders.

With skipper Rahul, the leading run-scorer of the tournament, and the flamboyant Chris Gayle coming good and the marauding Nicholas Pooran to follow at No 4, KXIP will fancy its chances at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. It remains to be seen if Mayank Agarwal, who has missed three games, returns to the side.

KXIP’s bowling has been instrumental in its recent wins. However, against the Royals it leaked runs and was unable to pick wickets and skipper Rahul will hope his bowlers will be on top of their game against a CSK side, which cruised to a 10-wicket win in the previous meeting. For CSK, 23-year-old Ruturaj Gaikwad has shown a lot of spark, notching up back-to-back fifties to set up the wins against RCB and KKR. Ravindra Jadeja has been in fantastic form, smashing boundaries and sixes towards the end of the innings.

The CSK bowling unit, boosted by the inclusion of New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner, has done well in the previous two outings and will look to keep the momentum going.