KXIP Showed 'How A Won Match Can Be Lost' Against KKR: Aakash Chopra

Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra came down hard on Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) after their loss by two runs against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Saturday. With that, KXIP registered their sixth loss from seven matches they have played and continued to sit at the bottom of the table.

Opting to bat, KKR set a target of 165 runs to chase for KXIP. Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul forged a 115-run stand to give KXIP a solid start. Nicholas Pooran then stepped in to add 16 runs off 10 deliveries but following his departure KXIP was reduced from 144/2 to 158/5 as they slumped to another loss.

I didn’t feel they can lose that match: Aakash Chopra

KXIP needed 14 runs off the final over from Sunil Narine but Maxwell failed to help his side cross the line. The hard-hitting batsman missed by an inch to draw the game as the last ball of the final over went for four runs. Chopra said that KXIP showed how a won match can be lost and he didn’t expect that.

“Kings XI Punjab showed how a won match can be lost. It was shocking because I didn’t feel they can lose that match.”

“Kings XI Punjab had restricted KKR to a total they could have easily chased. But what they did was beyond my understanding. Because if you have such an opening partnership and you are chasing a modest total, then you walk towards the victory.”

KXIP will next face Virat Kohli-led RCB in the IPL 2020 on Thursday. They are virtually out of the IPL 2020 and will need to win all their remaining matches by big margin to expect a chance to qualify for the play-offs.