Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 48th Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: Indian Premier League, 2018 Venue: Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore Date & Time: May 14, 08:00 PM LOCAL

Umesh Yadav played a crucial role in restricting KXIP to 88 © BCCI

As Kohli said, the results in the last week or so have kept the table open. While SRH and CSK have already made it through, things are heating up for the other two positions. RCB have done their bit to stay alive while KXIP have just been throwing away the good job they did in the first half of the tournament. KKR vs RR tomorrow is another crucial encounter. Join us for that clash.

Umesh Yadav,is the Man of the match.

that a team has lost five wickets in the first nine overs of the innings. The previous occasion was in match 23 when @SunRisers were 71-5. They went on to post 118 and successfully defended it against @mipaltan

fans supporting today. Just see to it that this extra support doesn't give them an extra boost as far as the NRR is concerned.

Then the max RCB can finish will be 12. KXIP will move to 14 points after today's win & either of KKR or RR will also reach at least 14 points. (SRH is on 18 & CSK on 16)

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Build-up

Hello and welcome to the Live Blog of the 48th match of IPL 2018, featuring hosts Kings XI Punjab against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. Five victories in their first six games but only one in the five matches after that - KXIP have had contrasting fortunes in this IPL. While they are still in the top half of the points table, currently placed third, they might have to tussle with other teams for a position in the play-offs if their poor run continues. The main reason for that has been KXIP's middle order woes and their over reliance on the opening pair of KL Rahul and Chris Gayle. Their bowling, too, has started to show some cracks in the recent games and the time is ripe for them to buck the slide.

KXIP's opponents for today, Royal Challengers Bangalore, have cut a sorry figure despite a power-packed squad. They are in danger of being knocked out of competition - a loss would mean their play-offs hopes will come to an end today. Can RCB fight back like cornered tigers? A good batting performance in the previous game, with Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers both scoring fifties for the first time in this IPL, will give them a lot of confidence.

But RCB are up against a batting order that has Rahul, who has hardly put a step wrong, and a dangerous Gayle, who has been kept quiet in the last few matches and all that bottled up energy might just find the release against RCB, a franchise that had decided to let him go. While we wait for the outcome of the toss and the elevens, in what is expected to be another high scoring game, here's the detailed preview. Also read: KXIP's 'Karnataka troika' bound by similar goals and a familiar catchphrase