Chennai Super Kings beat Kings XI Punjab by nine wickets to end their chances of qualifying for the IPL 2020 playoffs. CSK end their campaign with three back to back wins and a total of 12 points under their belt. Kings XI Punjab, meanwhile, have been knocked out of the tournament after a famous comeback in the second half is the tournament.

Chennai Super Kings won the toss and opted to bowl first in Abu Dhabi. Their bowlers and especially Lungi Ngidi took three wickets to jolt Kings XI Punjab. Imran Tahir, Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur took one each as the KXIP batsmen found it tough to score runs. Skipper KL Rahul (29) and Mayank Agarwal (26) added 48 for the first wicket. They lost wickets in the middle-order and in the middle overs as well. Deepak Hooda then played a cameo coming ou to bat at number six. He scored 62 off 30 balls to get the Punjab total to 153. Chris Gayle, in a must-win game for KXIP scored 12 off 19 balls.

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CSK Knock Kings XI Punjab Out of IPL 2020

In reply, Ruturaj Gaikwad scored his third fifty on the trot to take CSK to their third win on the bounce to end their campaign on a winning note. Faf Du Plessis (48) added 82 for the first wicket inside 10 overs, to lay the perfect platform for what was a comfortable chase. Ambati Rayudu scored a run-a-ball 30 to finish the business unbeaten as well.

What Was the Turning Point in the Game?

It was the CSK bowlers who set the game up for CSK by restricting Punjab to a below-par total. As it turned out, CSK won the match by nine wickets as batting became better in the afternoon contest. Kings XI Punjab, at  the end of it was knocked out of the competition.

Gaikwad for his third consecutive fifty was awarded the Man of the Match.

“I was scoring well in the domestic circuit in every format, so I was feeling confident. Even for my club and state team, I had to be the anchor, make sure the team wins and I stay till the end. At times, I also need to be aggressive. One of my favourite – inside-out (shot). Not to be part of the squad which was practising initially, to miss the first few games, it was difficult for me. But the management and every teammate made sure that I was positive” said Gaikwad.

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