That's from us folks! Do join us for the live blog of the second game between KKR and RCB. RCB have been asked to bat first. Should be a cracker.
Hello and welcome to the live blog of the IPL 2018 game between Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils. Both sides come into clash with two new leaders - Ashwin will lead KXIP while Gambhir will lead DD.
There are plenty of similarities when it comes to Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils. For starters, neither has won the title in the ten editions so far. They have also failed to make it to the top four consistently, with Daredevils' seven finishes outside the top four being slightly bettered by Kings XI's eight - most for any team that has featured in all IPL editions. Ten different captains for Daredevils and eleven for KXIP adding to the similitude.
However, a new decade of the IPL raise hopes of a new dawn for both teams, who are led by skippers who know what it takes to win the IPL title. In Gautam Gambhir, Daredevils have a two-time IPL winning captain while R Ashwin, a potent weapon in Chennai Super Kings' past successes, would have learnt a trick or two from MS Dhoni. With two Australians - Ricky Ponting and Brad Hodge - as head coaches for both teams, there won't be any dearth of die-hard attitude infusion for the players.
As to the contrasts, the difference lies in the personnel involved in the make up of the teams. Daredevils have invested in youth by going in for seven players aged 23 or below (not including Kagiso Rabada), while KXIP have gone in with a blend of freshness and experience. As many as seven players in the KXIP outfit are above 30 while there are plenty of youngsters, including the 17-year-old Afghanistan sensation Mujeeb Zadran.
Another difference between the two sides is that Daredevils have identified a core group of players from their previous season. Seven players who featured in the Daredevils squad last year are still part of the team while the Punjab franchise has opted for a makeover of sorts. Apart from Axar Patel, Mohit Sharma, David Miller and Marcus Stoinis, Kings XI have gone in with a new bunch of players in an attempt to turn their fortunes around.