IPL 2020 – 3 key player battles to watch out for RR vs KKR head to head

By
Chandra Moulee
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Rajasthan Royals takes on Kolkata Knight Riders in today’s IPL encounter and after a somewhat dull match last night, you’d expect it to be a thrilling one in the best vs best clash. Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Pat Cummins, Andre Russell, and Steve Smith are some of the superstars involved in the game and their clash surely makes it a watchable and exciting one. Let’s take a look at three exciting players battle to look forward to in tonight’s game.

In the head-to-head, KKR and RR have an even record with 10 wins each. On current form though, Rajasthan have the upper hand. As KKR look to upset the in-form RR, we look at three-player battles that could decide what has the potential to be a close contest.

Andre Russel vs Sanju Samson (IPL 2020 RR vs KKR Live)

In the Indian Premier League 2019 Andre Russell emerged as giant of the world cricket, giant who can hit sixes at will, against any bowler he wants. He ended up hitting record 52 sixes in the last edition of IPL.
The 6 feet 3 inch West Indies cricketer is yet to fire this IPL, yet to hit a six. His throne in IPL 2020 is currently overtaken by someone else, someone by the name of Sanju Samson of Rajasthan Royals.
Unlike Russell who believes in brute power, 5ft7inch Samson is making the world notice and applaud for his sixth sense of reading the length of ball a shade faster than anyone else in the business and that is resulting in him hitting sixes with that sweet sound of timber.
Samson is the new Russell of IPL 2020. In two games so far the diminutive looking Samson has hit the ball for SIX 16 times and has scored 159 runs @ unbelieveable strike rate of 214.86.
Today it’s time for Russell vs Samson in the battle of SIXES. Probably who will hit more, who will hit clean – will win the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals match.

Steve Smith vs Pat Cummins

 

Steve Smith vs Pat Cummins is an exciting battle to watch today considering the fact that both the players are best in the world when it comes to Test cricket and both represent the same team when playing international cricket. They haven’t faced each other in IPL yet and so nobody has any edge over each other when it comes to the battle and today could be the beginning of something. Cummins against Jos Buttler will also be a thing to watch. Both these players have an even record when it comes to Twenty 20 Internationals.

After a poor show against the Mumbai Indians, Cummins came back very well against SRH, bowling a pacy spell.

Cummins’ tight bowling was one of the key factors behind Sunrisers’ struggling, as he conceded only 19 in his four overs. For KKR to do well against RR, they will have to get the wicket of the in-form Samson early. Being a highly experienced bowler, KKR will really on Cummins to get it done against RR.

Shubman Gill vs Jofra Archer (IPL 2020 RR vs KKR Live)

KKR opener Shubman Gill is one of the most promising upcoming batsmen in the Indian arena. His talent was on display during the 2018 U-19 World Cup, which India won under the captaincy of Prithvi Shaw. Gill was India’s highest run-scorer in the tournament with 372 runs in six games at an average of 124.

The gifted youngster demonstrated his batting ability in the victory over SRH as well with a fine 70 not out. It was a mature knock that ensured KKR sailed through what could have been a tricky chase.

The challenge for Gill against Jofra Archer will be a completely different one. The RR bowler can bowl real quick, and this has been on display in his short but eventful international career so far. Archer also possesses a very good bouncer with which he has troubled many opponents.

The fiery pacer was not in his element against the KXIP batsmen, who took him on and ended up on top. The fast bowler will be keen to make amends in the game against KKR. Gill, on the other hand, will go into the game with the awareness that Archer can be attacked.

 

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