It is the only game of the weekend that has no bearing on who qualifies for the knockout stages, with both sides already eliminated from the competition, after lamentably poor seasons. Probably more understandable in the case of the Supergiants, as they were making their IPL debut, and were looking to bed in as a unit against much more established franchises.
Both teams have a record of played 13, won four and lost nine times, going into their last fixture of IPL9. The Supergiants have the advantage in overall run rate. The prize for the winners of Saturday’s game, though it is hardly any consolation will be to avoid finishing in bottom place on the regular season table.
When the sides met in Mohali back on 17th April, the Kings XI claimed one of only two home wins that they have managed through the campaign. Winning by 6-wickets, after their visitors won the toss and elected to bat, posting 152-7.
If Pune take the spoils this weekend, it will be just a second win on home soil during 2016. Their only previous success coming against the Delhi Daredevils in their most recent outing, who were beaten on the D/L Method by 19 runs, just three days ago.
The Kings XI’s own most recent match ended in a humiliating defeat against the rampant Royal Challengers Bangalore, who battered them to the tune of 211-3 from just 15 overs in a rain affected fixture, Virat Kohli smashing 113 from just 50 deliveries.