The 18th match of IPL 2020 was played between KXIP and CSK at Dubai International Stadium Dubai on 4th October. KXIP captain Lokesh Rahul had won the toss and chose to bat first. Lokesh Rahul and Mayank Agarwal opened the inning for KXIP.
As usual, this pair gave a good start to the inning and team. In the 9th over the first wicket of Kings XI Punjab was lost in the form of Mayank Agarwal who got out at an individual score of 26 runs. Mandeep Singh joined Rahul to carry forward the inning with some better score but got out in the 12 over at the score of 27, and hence KXIP was at 94/2. Nicholas Pooran joined the game and played some good shots, but he also could not make a big score and got out at a personal score of 33 runs. Lokesh Rahul played a captain’s inning again and made 63 runs in 52 balls. Hence at the end of 20 overs, the score of KXIP was 178 at a loss of 4 wicket which was not much defendable. From CSK Shardul Thakur was the most successful bowler as he got 2 wickets.
To meet the task of 178 runs the opening pair of Shane Watson and FAF du Plessis started the inning. Since the beginning of the tournament Watson was not able to play a good inning and hence he was all set to play one of his best innings. Watson and du Plessis started the inning well and played excellent cricket where no bowler could do anything. They played across the ground and made some big shots also. Bowling attack from KXIP seemed helpless as they both played every delivery with a class. Watson made 83 runs in 53 balls, and du Plessis made 87 runs in 53 balls. Hence Chennai Super Kings chased the target easily without losing any wicket. CSK made 181 in 17.4 overs only. It was one of the largest opening partnership done by any opening pair in the history of IPL. From KXIP almost every bowler was smashed by both openers of CSK. Shane Watson was declared as the player of the match for his brilliant inning of 83 runs. Though team CSK had lost past some matches and was at the bottom of the point table, this match has changed the scenario now, and in coming days more dynamics of tournament can be witnessed.