IPL 2020’s league stage has reached the business end and now every game has repercussions to the table. While earlier some teams were struggling to find the right combination, there is no margin for error at this crucial juncture. There are certain teams who started slowly but are picking up some much-needed momentum just at the right time. For winning leagues as competitive as the IPL, ‘peaking at the right time’ is of utmost importance.
One such team is Kings XI Punjab. The Mohali-based franchise lost 6 out of their initial 7 league games. They were stuck to the bottom of the table, looking down and out. However, in the second half of the league stage so far, they have won 3 out of 3 games. That’s not all, they have beaten the top 3 teams in the competition in these matches. After securing a last-ball win against RCB, KXIP prevailed over the Mumbai Indians in a double super over the encounter. Last night they proved too good for table-toppers Delhi Capitals.
According to leading experts, KXIP is well and truly back in the competition. In fact, they look like peaking at the right time. With Gayle’s inclusion, they finally seem to have found the right balance in their squad and no total is too big for them. The most influential figure in their turnaround has been captain KL Rahul. He holds the orange cap and barring yesterday’s encounter he has always been amongst the runs.
KL Rahul essaying the triple role of key batter, wicketkeeper and captain
Even though Nicholas Pooran is part of the KXIP XI, KL Rahul has preferred to take the wicket keeping mantle upon himself. Much like Dhoni, Rahul has been playing the triple role of key batter, the wicketkeeper, and captain. Even when the going for his team was tough, the Karnataka lad never overreacted or lost his cool and was pretty balanced in his statements too. These are all qualities that one attaches to MSD. Therefore, the comparisons are inevitable and one Twitter user even referred to KL as Thala.
However, Rahul being the good boy that he is replied to the user saying, “There is only one Thala and everyone knows who it is.”
Check out the tweets here;
