Depending upon the Gujarat Lions’ result on Tuesday against the Delhi Daredevils, KKR could have the chance of ascending to the top of the table on Wednesday, when they host the Kings XI Punjab at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
KKR now have a record that shows five wins and three defeats, leaving them two points behind the table leaders the Gujarat Lions, and ahead of the reigning Champions the Mumbai Indians on overall run rate.
The visitors to Eden Gardens on Wednesday, the Kings XI, are one of the three sides, the others being Rising Pune Supergiants and Royal Challengers Bangalore, that already appear to be out of the running for the post-season knockout phase of the tournament.
All three of those sides have managed to win just twice in 2016, leaving them on four points, and four points adrift of the next lowest team, the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
KKR and the Kings XI have already met once this season, back on 19th April at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, when they visitors secured a fairly comfortable 6-wicket victory with nearly three overs remaining.
However, the Kings XI will go into the game with some renewed confidence, having secured only their second win of 2016 at the weekend, when they inflicted only the second defeat of the season on the Lions. Axar Patel’s hat-trick helping to contain the table toppers to 131-9, in pursuit of Punjab’s 154 all out.