IPL 2019, 4-5 May Preview: The final stretch!
The final double header weekend of 2019 edition of the IPL is finally here! Stakes are very high for many teams involved over the weekend. The fourth and final playoff spot is still up for grabs. Even for the three teams who have qualified, the motivation for a top-two finish still remains. This will give them an added chance to make it to the finals even if they lose the first qualifier.
The weekend will start off with a match between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals. It is a must-win encounter for RR if they are to keep their qualification chances alive.
The second match on Saturday will see Royal Challengers Bangalore host Sunrisers Hyderabad. RCB are already out of the tournament, but Hyderabad will need a victory in their final match to confirm their berth.
Sunday will start off with Kings XI Punjab hosting Chennai Super Kings. A win for CSK will ensure their finish at the top. KXIP’s fate will largely depend on the result of their match against Kolkata Knight Riders.
The final match of the group stage in IPL 2019 will be played between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium. MI will be highly motivated to keep their place in the top two intact. KKR will have to win their match against KXIP to keep their hopes alive heading into their visit in Mumbai.
Here we look at few talking points from the final weekend bonanza of the 2019 IPL:
The foreign conundrum for Rajasthan Royals
RR will find it extremely tough to field 4 quality foreign players in their match against DC. Four of their biggest names – Steve Smith, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer have all flown back for national duties. The likes of Liam Livingstone, Ashton Turner and Oshane Thomas will be their likely replacements. RR as a team will have to play out of their skins to stay alive in the race. It won’t be easy against a DC unit that has been one of the most consistent performers this season.
RCB battle for pride, SRH battle for survival
Royal Challengers Bangalore are already knocked out of the IPL. A horrible start ultimately cost them big time despite a surge in the middle stages of the tournament. They still have winners like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in their ranks, for whom losing is never an option. RCB will hope to end the tournament on a high note and take some positives into the next season.
For SRH, stakes could not be higher. A win should more or less guarantee them a place in the playoffs, while defeat could prove to be lethal. Starting the tournament brilliantly, Hyderabad have faltered in the latter stages. They are now without the services of their two key batters – David Warner and Jonny Bairstow. The Super Over loss against MI have put them in a precarious position. The onus will be on the likes of Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson to fill their void and take SRH over the line.
CSK aim to finish at the top
CSK have easily been the most consistent team this tournament. Everyone associated with the franchise knows their role perfectly and the experienced players deliver the results on the pitch. Heading into the playoffs, they will aim to end the group stages with momentum on their side. A captain like MS Dhoni will not allow complacency to creep among the ranks.
For KXIP, the significance of the match will depend upon their result against KKR. If they lose the match, they will only have their pride to play for in the encounter against CSK. But a win will put them in the thick of things as far as battling for a playoff spot is concerned.
MI aim to give perfect send-off gift to Mumbai
MI too will have high motivation heading into the final game of the group stages. The Mumbai crowd has supported them brilliantly throughout the season and their home form has been crucial. They have won 4 of the 6 matches at the Wankhede Stadium this year. The conditions suit the current composition of the team perfectly with stroke makers making good use of the pace and bounce on the wicket along with the seamers. A win in the final league game would be the perfect end to a successful campaign.
KKR face a similar scenario to Kings XI Punjab, as their quest for qualifying largely depends on their previous result. A defeat in Mohali will make the result in the contest against MI inconsequential for them. A victory will mean the final spot in the playoffs for IPL 2019 will be decided in the very last match of the group stage.
