IPL 2020 Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab highlights: RR complete the highest successful run chase in IPL

DH is covering every match of the Indian Premier League 2020 in the UAE. Follow our live ball-by-ball updates from match nine between the Rajasthan Royals and the Kings XI Punjab at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Thank you for joining us. Join us tomorrow for the match between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challenegers Bangalore. We leave you with this tweet from Harsha Bhogle which sums up everything that we experienced in this match.

That concludes the coverage of this crazy match! We can take a deep breath and relax now. This match is one for the ages.

Sanju Samson: I have been hitting it well for the past one year. So I was just sticking to my routine and feeling confident. I am happy to win a few games. I did a lot of soul searching after being frustrated at trying stuff. So I decided if I had ten more years of cricket left in me, I want to go back and give my everything.

Player of the Match

For his fabulous innings of 85 off 42 balls RR's Sanju Samson is the Player of the Match.

Steve Smith : That was some chase! Tewatia, that was some sort of display against Cottrell. We got an idea about the conditions here in the last game. It's a small ground, we always thought if we have wickets in the shed we always have a chance. Samson is hitting sixes at will at the moment. We saw in the nets that he was hitting the ball like he did in that over to Cottrell. Credit to him. Three sixes off Cottrell would have got us back in that game, that's great self-belief. Looked like we could be chasing over 250 at one point, credit to the bowlers for pulling things back.

KL Rahul: Look, this is T20 cricket, we have seen it so many years now, we did a lot of things right, lot of positives tonight, but such things do happen. The game keeps you humble all the time, I did think we had the game in our pocket. Towards the end they batted well and put pressure on our bowlers. I back them to do the job, they have done well in the last two games, it's OK to have one bad game. They will only learn from this and come back better. Small grounds and the total doesn't really matter. The bowlers are going the distance in this tournament so far, the teams are backing their batsmen to have a go at the death - Sanju Samson played superbly well and they deserve this win.

What a stunning run chase by RR!

RR 226/6 after 19.3 overs.

Ashwin to bowl. Parag is on strike.

19.1 Fuller ball and Parag blocks.

19.2 WICKET! Riyan Parag b Murugan Ashwin 0(2)

Googly. Parag goes for a sweep but is castled.

Tom Curran is on strike.

19.3 FOUR! Fuller ball and Curran smacks the ball over cover for a boundary.

RR 225/5 after 19 overs.

Shami to Uthappa.

18.1 WICKET! Uthappa c Pooran b Shami 9(4)

Fuller ball and Uthappa plays the ball straight into the hands of Pooran at long-off.

Archer is in the middle.

18.2 SIX! Short ball and Archer creams the ball over long-on for a maximum.

18.3. SIX! Fuller ball and Archer swings to send the ball over long on for a maximum.

18.4 Fuller ball and Archer plays the ball to sweeper cover for a single.

18.5 SIX! Short ball and Tewatia creams the ball over cover for a maximum.

18.6 WICKET! Rahul Tewatia c Agarwal b Shami 53(31)

Short ball and Tewatia swings his bat to send the ball straight into the hands of Mayank Agarwal in deep

RR 203/3 after 18 overs.

Cottrell to bowl. Tewatia is on strike.

17.1 SIX! Short ball and Tewatia pulls the ball over fine-leg for a maximum.

17.2 SIX! Good length ball and Tewati swings his bat to send the over fine-leg for another maximum.

17.3 SIX! Fuller ball outside off and Tewatia smacks the ball over long-off for yet another maximum.

17.4 SIX! Low full toss and Tewatia moves across and swings his bat to clear long with ease.

This is stunning!!!!!!!!!

17.5 Swing and a miss. Tewatia swings his bat for another maximum but misses.

17.6 SIX!! Fuller ball and Tewatia swings to send the ball out of the ground.

Crazy over!!! 30 runs off the over.!

RR 173/3 after 17 overs.

Shami to bowl. Samon is on strike.

16.1 WICKET! Sanju Samson c Rahul b Shami 85(42)

Short slow ball. Samon plays a ramp shot but the ball flies straight into the gloves of KL Rahul.

Robin Uthappa is on strike.

16.2 Fuller ball and Uthappa works the ball to leg-side for a single.

16.3 Low full toss and Tewatia plays the ball through mid-on for 2 runs.

16.4 Short ball and Tewatia pulls the ball for a single.

16.5 FOUR! Low full toss and Uthappa plays the ball to fine-leg for a boundary.

16.6 FOUR! Fuller ball and Uthappa plays the ball over mid-off for a boundary.

RR 161/2 after 16 overs.

Maxwell to bowl. Samson is on strike.

15.1 SIX! Fuller ball outside off and Samson smashes the ball over extra cover for a maximum.

15.2 SIX! Fuller ball and Samson smokes the ball over long-on for a maximum.

15.3 Fuller ball and Samon hits the ball down to long-off and refuses a single.

15.4 Short ball and Samson plays the ball to fine-leg for a couple.

15.5 SIX! Another fuller ball and Samson smashes the ball to send it over long-on for a maximum.

15.6 Fuller ball and Samson smashes the ball down to long-off for a single.

RR 140/2 after 15 overs.

Bishnoi to bowl. Tewatia is on strike.

14.1 Short ball and Tewatia plays a reverse sweep for a single.

14.2 Fuller delivery and Samson plays the ball to long-on for a single.

14.3 Fuller ball and Tewatia swings his bat but misses.

14.4 Another fuller ball and Tewatia plays the ball to third man.

14.5 SIX! Finally a big shot from Tewatia. Fuller ball and Tewatia comes down the track for a maximum.

14.6 Short ball. Tewatia goes for a revese hit but misses.

RR 132/2 after 14 overs.

James Neesham to bowl. Samson is on strike.

13.1 SIX! Fuller delivery outside off and Samson creams the ball over cover for a maximum.

13.2 Fuller delivery outside off. Samson smashes the ball to sweeper cover for a single.

13.3 Fuller delivery outside off. Tewatia wants to play the ball to fine leg but cannot.

13.4 Fuller delivery and Tewatia plays the ball down to long-on for a single.

13.5 Low toss and Samson gets the leading edge. The ball goes to long-off for a single.

13.6 Fuller ball and Tewatia hits the ball down to long-off for a single.

RR 122/2 after 13 overs.

Bishnoi to bowl. Samson is on strike.

12.1 Fuller ball and Samson drives the ball to long off for 2 runs.

12.2 Short ball. Samson goes for reverse hit but misses.

12.3 Fuller ball and Samson smacks the ball to long-off for a single.

12.4 Short ball. Tewatia goes for swing but misses.

12.4 WIDE! Poor ball way outside off.

12.5 Fuller ball. Tewati goes for another swing but misse.

12.6 Another fuller ball and Tewatia again goes for a wild swing but he cannot.

RR 118/2 after 12 overs.

Maxwell to bowl. Tewatia is on strike.

11.1 Short ball and Tewatia sweeps the ball to fine-leg for a single.

11.2 1 Leg Bye. Fuller ball which hits the pads and goes to leg side for a single.

11.3 Short ball and Tetwatia plays the ball for a single.

11.4 Low full toss and Samsom plays the ball to long off for 2 runs and get to his fifty.

11.5 Fuller ball and Samson plays a paddle sweep for a single.

11.6 Fuller delivery and Tewatia blocks.

RR 112/2 after 11 overs.

Neesham to bowl. Samsom is on strike.

10.1 Low full toss and Samson plays the ball to leg-side for a single.

10.2 Fuller ball and Tewatia plays the ball to mid-off.

10.3 Low full toss outside off. Tewatia plays the ball to long-on for a single.

10.4 FOUR! Fuller ball and Rahul creams the ball through cover for a boundary.

10.5 Short ball and Samson swings to play the ball to long-on for a single.

10.6 Short ball outside off. Tewatia plays the ball to long-on for a single.

RR 104/2 after 10 overs.

Glenn Maxwell to bowl. Rahul Tewatia is on strike.

9.1 Fuller ball and Tewatia blocks.

9.2 Low full toss and Tewatia plays the ball to long-off for a single.

9.3 Short ball and Samson works the ball to fine-leg for a single.

9.4 Short ball and Tewatia plays the ball to off-side.

9.5 Fuller ball and Tewatia goes for reverse sweep. The ball goes to leg-side for a single.

9.6 Fuller delivery and Samson hits the ball to long-off for a single.

RR 100/2 after 9 overs.

Neesham to bowl. On strike is Smith.

8.1 Back of the length ball and Smith plays the ball to backward point for a single.

8.2 FOUR! Fuller delivery and Samson creams the ball through backward point for a boundary.

8.3 Slower ball and Samon plays the ball to leg side for a single.

8.4 Short ball and Smith plays the ball to leg-side for a single.

8.5 Fuller ball and Samson plays the ball to leg side for a single.

8.6 WICKET! Steve Smith c Shami b Neesham 50(27)

Fuller ball and Smith slices the ball straight to Mohammed Shami at sweeper cover.

RR 92/1 after 8 overs.

M Ashwin to bowl. Samson is on strike.

7.1 Good length ball outside off. Samson plays the ball to sweeper cover for a single.

7.2 Fuller delivery and Smith hits the ball down the ground for a single.

7.3 Good length ball and Samosn plays the ball to long-on for 2 runs.

7.4 SIX! Fuller delivery outside off and Samson smacks the over long-off for a maximum.

7.5 Short ball and Samson plays the ball to cover for a single.

7.6 Fuller delivery and Smith works the ball to leg side for a single.

RR 80/1 after 7 overs.

Bishnoi to bowl. Samson is on strike.

6.1 Short ball. Samson plays the ball to sweeper cover for a single.

6.2 SIX! Tonked over long-on. Fuller ball outside off and Smith smashes the ball over long-on.

6.3 Short ball and Smith pushes the ball through cover for a single.

6.4 Short ball and Samson works the ball to leg-side for a single.

6.5 Tossed up delivery and Smith blocks the ball.

6.6 Short ball and Smith goes deep in his crease to cut the ball to third man for 2 runs.

RR 69/1 after 6 overs.

James Neesham to bowl. Steve Smith is on strike.

5.1 Fuller ball outside off and Smith plays the ball to mid-on.

5.2 FOUR! Fuller ball on middle. Smith plays an inside out shot over backward point for a bounadry.

5.3 Fuller delivery outside off. Smith shuffles across to clear fine-leg but the ball hits his pads.

5.4 Good length ball outside off. Smith works the ball to square-leg for 2 runs.

5.5 FOUR! Short ball outside off and Smith walks down the track to power the ball through cover for a bounadry.

5.6 FOUR! Fuller delivery outside off. Smith swings his bat. The ball takes the thick edge of the bat and goes to third-man for a boundary.

RR 55/1 after 5 overs.

Ravi Bishnoi to bowl. Samson is on strike.

4.1 Fuller ball and Smith blocks the ball.

4.1 WIDE! Short ball going down leg

4.2 Short ball outside off. Samson pushes the ball to cover.

4.3 SIX! Tossed up delivery and Samson smacks the ball over Bishnoi's head for a maximum.

4.4 Short ball on middle and leg. The ball raps on the pads.

4.5 FOUR! Short ball. Samson pulls the ball over mid-wicket for a boundary.

4.6 Good length ball outside off. Samson blocks.

RR 44/1 after 4 overs.

Shami to Smith.

3.1 SIX! Fuller delivery outside off. Smith swings his bat to send the ball over deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

3.2 Short ball down leg but Smith fails to work the ball.

3.3 FOUR! Low full toss on the leg-stump. Smith goes deep in his crease to play the ball to fine-leg for a boundary.

3.4 Short ball which raps high on the pads.

3.5 Good length ball outside off. Smith wanted to ramp the ball over the keeper but mistimes his shot as the ball goes to short fine. Smith takes a single.

3.6 Fuller ball and Samson flicks the ball through mid-wicket for 3 runs.

RR 30/1 after 3 overs.

Cottrell continues. Buttler is on strike.

2.1 Fuller ball outside off. Buttler drives the ball through cover.

2.2 WICKET! Jos Buttler c Sarfaraz Khan b Cottrell 4(7)

Fuller ball on off. Buttler flicks the ball to leg-side. But the ball goes straight to Sargaraz Khan at short mid-wicket.

Sanju Samson is the new batsman.

2.2 WIDE! Fuller ball way outside off.

2.3 SIX! Short ball outside off. Samson swings his bat to send the ball over long-on for a maximum.

2.4 Fuller delivery and the ball beats the outside edge of the bat.

2.5 FOUR! Fuller delivery on middle. Samson swings his bat to send the ball down the ground for a boundary.

2.6 Short ball outside off. Samson cuts the ball to cover.

RR 19/0 after 2 overs.

Mohammed Shami to bowl. Buttler is on strike.

1.1 Short ball. Buttler works the ball to leg-side for 2 runs.

1.2 Fuller ball going down leg. Buttler plays the ball down to fine-leg.

1.2 WIDE! Too short and too wide by Shami.

1.3 Short ball and the ball just beats the outside edge of the bat.

1.4 Short ball and Buttler works the ball to leg-side for a single.

1.5 FOUR! Fuller ball and Smith smacks the back over Shami's head for a bounadry.

1.6 Fuller ball outside off. Smith goes for swing but the ball goes past him.

RR 11/0 after 1 over.

Sheldon Cottrell to bowl the first over. On strike is Jos Buttlerr.

0.1 Good length ball outside off. The ball takes the inside edge and goes to short fine. Buttler takes a single.

0.2 Good length ball on middle. Smith works the ball to leg-side.

0.3 Fuller ball outside off. Smith plays the ball to mid-off.

0.4 FOUR! Short ball outside off. Smith works the ball to fine-leg for a boundary.

0.4 WIDE! Poor ball by Cottrell as he bowls down leg.

0.4 WIDE! Another ball down leg.

0.5 FOUR! Fuller ball outside off. Smith punches the ball through the gap on the off-side for a boundary.

0.5 Fuller ball and Smith plays the ball to off-side.

RR's chase is about to begin. KL Rahul is giving final pep talk to his team. And out come the RR openers Jos Buttler and Steve Smith.

KXIP 223/2 after 20 overs.

Archer to bowl the last over. Maxwell is on strike.

19.1 WIDE! Short ball down leg.

19.1 Low full toss and Maxwell plays the ball to long-off for a single.

19.2 SIX! Fuller delivery and Porran swings his bat to clear long-off.

19.3 FOUR! Fuller delivery and Pooran smacks the ball through point for a bounadry.

19.4 Good length ball and Pooran plays the ball back to the bowler.

19.5 Good ball as th ball goes to the keeper.

19.6 FOUR! Short ball and Poorna pulls the ball to send it to long-on for a bounadry.

KXIP 205/2 after 19 overs.

Curran to bowl. Maxwell is on strike.

18.1 Short ball and Maxwell pulls the ball to long-on for a single.

Nicholas Pooran is the new batsman. He is on strike.

18.2 Short ball outside off. Poorna plays the ball straight back to the bowler for a single.

18.3 Fuller ball outside off. Maxwell goes for a reverse hit but misses.

18.4 Fuller ball outside off and Maxwell plays the ball to off-side for a single.

18.5 SIX! Low full toss outside off. Pooran slogs the ball to send it out of the ground.

18.6 Dropped! Fuller ball. Pooran swings his bat. The ball balloons high in the air. Robin Uthappa drops a tough catch.

KXIP 194/2 after 18 overs.

Rajpoot to bowl. Maxwell is on strike.

17.1 Fuller ball wide of off stump. The ball goes to the keeper.

17.2 FOUR!Short ball outside off and Maxwell pulls the ball to deep square-leg for a bounadry.

17.3 FOUR! Fuller ball outside off and Maxwell chops the ball to third-man for a bounadry.

17.4 Full toss and Maxwell plays the ball to long-on for a single.

17.5 Good length ball outside off. Rahul goes for a revese sweep but misses.

17.6 WICKET! KL Rahul c Shreyas Gopal b Rajpoot 69(54)

Fuller delivery and Rahul looks to clear third-man but Shreyas Gopal takes a good catch in deep.

KXIP 185/1 after 17 overs.

Tom Curran to bowl. On strike is KL Rahul.

16.1 Short ball and Rahul pulls the ball to long-on for a single.

16.2 FOUR! Low full toss outside off. Mayank plays the ball down the ground for a boundary.

16.3 WICKET! Agarwal c Samson b Tom Curran 106(50)

A low full toss. Mayank looks for big shot. The ball hits low on the bat and goes to fine-leg where Sanju Samson takes a good catch.

Glenn Maxwell is the new batsman. KL Rahul is on strike.

16.4 Good yoker by Curran as the ball goes to the keeper.

16.5 Good length ball outside off. Rahul plays the ball to off-side for a single.

16.6 Short ball outside off. Maxwell plays the ball to point for a single.

KXIP 177/0 after 16 overs.

Ankit Rajpoot to bowl. Rahul is on strike.

15.1 WIDE! Poor ball as Rajpoot bowls outside off.

15.1 Fuller ball outside off. Rahul plays the ball through cover for a single.

15.2 Fuller ball and Mayank plays the ball to long-off for a single.

15.3 Short ball outside off. Rahul cuts the ball to third-man for 2 runs.

15.4 Fuller ball outside off. The ball goes past the batsman to the keeper.

15.5 Good length ball outside off. Mayank plays the ball to long-on for a single.

15.6 Low full toss. Rahul hits the ball through cover for a single.

KXIP 172/0 after 15 overs.

Shreyas Gopla to bowl. Rahul is on stike.

14.1 FOUR! Short ball and Rahul pulls the ball to deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

14.2 Short ball and Rahul plays the ball to cover for a single.

14.3 Short ball and Mayank plays the ball to cover for another single.

14.4 Fuller ball and Rahul blocks the ball.

14.5 Fuller ball and Rahul plays the ball through cover for a single.

14. 6 FOUR! Short ball and Mayank creams the ball over extra-cover for a boundary.

And Mayank Agarwal gets his maiden IPL hundred!

KXIP 161/0 after 14 overs.

Jofra Archer to bowl. Rahul is on strike.

13.1 Good length ball. Rahul plays the ball to point for a single.

13.2 Fuller delivery. Mayank pushes the ball through cover. Good work by Sanju Samson in deep saves a boundary. Mayank takes 3 runs.

13.3 Fuller delivery. Rahul pushes the bal to cover.

13.4 FOUR! Short ball and Rahul pulls the ball to square-leg for a boundary.

13.5 Short ball. Rahul gets a leading edge. The ball goes through cover as he gets a single.

13.6 FOUR! Short ball and Mayanl pulls the ball to fine-leg for a boundary.

KXIP 148/0 after 13 overs.

Shreyas Gopal to bowl. Rahul is on strike.

12.1 Fuller delivery outside off and Rahul plays the ball to cover.

12.2 Wide full toss and Rahul plays the ball to long-off for a single.

12.2 WIDE! Poor ball outside off.

12.3 SIX! Fuller delivery outside off. Mayank smacks the ball over extra-cover for a maximum.

12.4 Fuller delivery outside off. The ball goes straight to the keeper.

12.5 Good length delivery. Mayank plays the ball to long-on for a single.

12.6 Short ball. Rahul works the ball to mid-wicket for a single.

KXIP 138/0 after 12 overs.

Tom Curran is back in the attack. Rahul is on strike.

11.1 SIX! Fuller ball on middle. Rahul creams the ball over long-on for a maximum.

11.2 Fuller ball and Rahul plays the ball to deep point for a single.

11.3 Low full toss outside off. Mayank plays the ball down to long-off for a single.

11.4 FOUR! Fuller delivery outside off. Rahul makes use of his wrists to cream the ball to third-man for a boundary.

11.4 WIDE! Short ball down the leg-side.

11.5 Good yorker and Rahul pushes the ball to long-off for a single.

11.6 FOUR! Short ball outside off. Mayank cuts the ball through cover for a boundary.

KXIP 120/0 after 11 overs.

Unadkat is back in the attack. On strike is Rahul.

10.1 Fuller ball and Rahul plays the ball to cover for a single.

10.2 FOUR! Fuller ball. Mayank swings his bat for a big shot. The ball takes the outside edge and goes to third-man for a boudary.

10.3 Fuller ball and Mayank plays the ball to cover for a single.

10.4 Short ball and Rahul hits the ball to the fielder at point.

10.5 Fuller ball and Rahul works the ball to leg-side for a single.

10.5 WIDE! Poor ball. Unadkat bowls a bouncer but the ball goes over the batsman's head.

10.6 Fuller ball and Mayank works the ball to mid-wicket and pushes for 2 runs.

KXIP 110/0 after 10 overs.

Tom Curran into the attack. Mayank is on strike.

9.1 Fuller delivery and Mayank works the ball to fine-leg for a single.

9.2 Fuller ball outside off. Rahul cuts the ball through backward point for a single.

9.3 FOUR! Good length ball outside off. Mayank pulls the ball to send it to deep mid-wicktet for a boundary.

9.4 Fuller delivery and Mayank crunches the ball to cover. Good work by Riyan Parag to stop the ball.

9.5 Short ball and Manank pulls the ball to deep mid-wicket for a single.

9.6 Fuller ball and Rahul plays the ball to third-man for a single.

KXIP 102/0 after 9 overs.

Shreyas Gopal to bowl. Rahul is in strike.

8.1 Short ball and Rahul plays the ball to leg-side for a single.

8.2 SIX! Fuller delivery on middle. Mayank smacks the ball over long-off for a maximum. Mayank Agarwal gets his fifty!

8.3 Short ball and Mayank plays the ball to leg-side for a single.

8.4 SIX! Fuller delivery. Mayank dances down the track and smacks the ball over the bowler's head for a maximum.

8.5 Short ball and Mayank pulls the ball to long-on for a single.

8.6 Fuller ball and Rahul leans in his drive to push the ball through cover for a single.

KXIP 86/0 after 8 overs.

Bowling change. Rahul Tewatia to bowl. Rahul is on strike.

7.1 Fuller delivery outside off. Rahul pushes the ball through cover for a single.

7.2 SIX! Short ball and Mayank pulls the ball to send it over fine-leg for a maximum.

7.3 SIX! Fuller ball and Mayank clears his front leg to hit the ball over the bowler's head for a maximum.

7.4 FOUR! Short ball. Mayank pulls the ball to clear deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

7.5 Short ball outside off. Mayank plays the ball to cover for a single.

7.6 Fuller ball and Rahul drives the ball through cover for a single.

KXIP 67/0 after 7 overs.

Bowling change. Shreyas Gopal to bowl. Rahul is on strike.

6.1 Short ball on leg. Rahul works the ball to leg-side for 2 runs.

6.2 Fuller delivery and Rahul sweeps the ball to short fine for a single.

6.3 Fuller delivery. Mayank plays the ball down to long-on for a single.

6.4 Fuller ball. Rahul works the ball to long-on for a single.

6.5 Fuller delivery outside off. Mayank smashes the ball to long-on. Good work by Riyan Parag stops a certain six. Mayank gets a single.

6.6 Short ball and Rahul plays the ball to deep mid-wicket for a single.

KXIP 60/0 after 6 overs.

Archer to bowl. Mayank is on strike.

5.1 Fuller ball on pads. Mayank blocks the ball.

5.2 Fuller ball and Mayank pushes the ball to point.

5.3 Fuller ball and Mayank plays the ball to third-man for a single.

5.4 Short ball. Rahul goes deep in his crease to block the ball.

5.5 Short ball and Rahul plays the ball to short mid wicket for a single.

5.6 Good length ball outside off. Mayank defends.

KXIP 58/0 after 5 overs.

Rajpoot to bowl. Rahul is on strike.

4.1 Short ball on middle. Rahul plays the ball to leg-side for a single.

4.2 FOUR! Fuller ball outside off. Mayank cracks the ball to long-on for a boundary.

4.3 FOUR! Fuller delivery outside off. Mayank goes deep in his crease and plays the ball through backward point to third-man for a boundary.

4.4 Fuller ball. Mayank plays the ball to fine-leg for a single.

4.5 Good length ball outside off. Rahul pushes the ball to sweeper cover and gets another single.

4.5 NO BALL! Rajpoot bowls a no ball. The ball goes down the leg side. Buttler fails to collect the ball as Mayank takes a single.

FREE HIT!

4.6 FOUR! Fuller delivery and Rahul creams the ball over point for a boundary.

KXIP 41/0 after 4 overs.

Bowling change. Jofra Archer to bowl. Rahul is on strike.

3.1 FOUR! Slower ball outside off. Rahul drives the ball through cover for a boundary.

3.2 FOUR! Half-vollery outside off. Rahul muscles the ball through cover for a boundary.

3.3 FOUR! Three in a row. Fuller delivery outside off. Rahul slices the ball through backward point for another boundary.

3.4 Fuller delivery and Rahul pushes the ball to off-side.

3.5 Good length ball outside off. Rahul plays the ball to cover.

3.6 Fuller delivery and Rahul pushes the ball to cover and takes a single.

KXIP 28/0 after 3 overs.

Unadkat continues. Mayank is on strike.

2.1 FOUR! Short ball on middle and leg. Mayank pulls the ball to deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

2.2 Fuller delivery and Mayank pushes the ball to off-side for a single.

2.3 Fuller delivery outside off. Rahul pushes the ball through cover and gets 2 runs.

2.4 Another fuller ball. Rahul pushes the ball to off-side and gets a single.

2.5 WIDE! Short ball outside off. Mayank leaves the ball. Buttller fails to collect the ball .The ball goes down to third-man. The batsman takes a couple.

2.5 SIX! Short ball and Mayankl moves across to pull the ball over square leg for a maximum.

2.6 Short ball and Mayank plays the ball to off-side.

KXIP 11/0 after 2 overs.

Ankit Rajpoot will share the new ball with Jaydev Unadkat. KL Rahul is on strike.

1.1 Short ball outside off. Rahul plays the ball to the fielder at point.

1.2 Fuller ball and Rahul plays the ball to third-man for a single.

1.3 SIX! Fuller delivery outside off. Mayank makes room and creams the ball over long-off for a maximum.

1.4 Good length ball outside off. Mayank works the ball to off-side.

1.5 Good length ball outside off. Mayank looks to play the ball to off-side but misses.

1.6 Fuller delivery. Mayank plays the ball to mid-on and takes a single.

KXIP 3/0 after 1 over.

Jaydev Unadkat to bowl the first over for RR. KL Rahul is on strike.

0.1 Good length ball on middle. Rahul taps the ball to short cover and takes a single.

0.2 Good length ball which moves away. The ball beats the outside edge of the bat and goes to the keeper.

0.3 Good length ball on middle. Mayank works the ball to off-side and takes a single.

0.4 Good length ball on middle. Rahul plays the ball to cover.

0.5 Short ball on middle. Rahul plays the ball to fine-leg for a single.

0.6 Good length ball which Mayank plays to off-side.

The two umpires are out on the field. RR players are in a huddle with Steve Smith giving final bit of instructions. KXIP openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal come out of the dugout and make their way to the pitch.

Live action is about to get underway.

KXIP Playing XI

Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul(w/c), Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, James Neesham, Murugan Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Sheldon Cottrell

RR Playing XI

Jos Buttler, Steven Smith(c), Sanju Samson(w), Robin Uthappa, Rahul Tewatia, Riyan Parag, Tom Curran, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat, Ankit Rajpoot

KL Rahul: We are still looking for the same process, get a good start. It's either been 150 or 200-plus. The lengths might change a little bit. It's a small ground, so the margin for error is a little less.

Steve Smith: We are gonna bowl. It was a little bit tacky in the first innings last game, that's the reason we are chasing. After the end of the last game, we know how wet it was. Miller's out and Rajpoot's in. Buttler is in. Hopefully I'll spend a little more time in the middle tonight.

Toss

RR captain Steve Smith wins the toss and opts to bowl.

Pitch Report

A good pitch to get a big total. Pitch can be said as "batsman's paradise" . The team batting first should win.

Last five matches (most recent first):

Rajasthan Royals: W-NR-W-W-L

Kings XI Punjab: W-L-L-L-W

Head to Head:

Matches Played: 19

Rajasthan Royals: 9

Kings XI Punjab: 10

Over the years the rivarly between Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab has been firecly contested one and these numbers prove that. Rajasthan Royals would want to win tonight and make 10 wins each for the either side.

Deccan Herald’s Dream XI

For the IPL fantasy players Deccan Herald puts together the best XI players from the two teams together. Which of these players find spots in your IPL fantasy teams?

KL Rahul, Jos Buttler, Steve Smith, Sanju Samson (wk), Karun Nair, James Neesham, Rahul Tewatia, Mohammad Shami, Shreyas Gopal, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi

Impact player for KXIP

Mohammad Shami: The Indian pacer has taken 4 wickets and has not given away too many runs in the two matches so far. His form with the ball is important for KXIP in the Powerplays and the death overs.

Impact player for RR

Jos Buttler: In the 250 T20 matches that Buttler has played, he has scored 5,903 runs at a strike rate of 144.75 and average of 30.90. His presence in the XI will take a lot of pressure off the shoulders of Steve Smith.

KXIP Threats:The middle and lower order haven't spent much time in the middle. Maxwell and Nicholas Pooran need to find their footing.

KXIP Opportunities:Rahul could make a name for himself as India's best white-ball keeper-batsman. That will give Rishabh Pant a fight for a place in India’s ODI XI.

KXIP Weaknesses:Glenn Maxwell has scored only six runs in two matches. Maxwell's form is vital to carry the weight of the middle and lower order. Right now, the middle order appears weak.

KXIP Strengths:KXIP's top order have made the start they need. Mayank Agarwal scored a wonderful fifty in the first match and Rahul’s century followed in the next clash. The rest of the order needs to provide the batting support required if the two of them fail.

The SWOT for KXIP

RR Threats: With Buttler coming in, RR need to find a batting order that works for them while being flexible and springing surprises. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Buttler, Smith, Samson and Uthappa are a formidable top order but does the line-up fall off a cliff after that?

RR Opportunities:Rahul Tewatia should work hard to grab wickets in every match and leave a mark this season.

RR Strengths: With the return of Jos Buttler, RR’s top four batsmen could be Buttler, Steve Smith, Sanju Samson and Robin Uthappa. Smith and Samson are in form and dangerous with fresh fifties from the last match. RR’s batters have sent an ominous message to opponents and they need to keep the momentum going.

The SWOT for RR

Let us find out the Strengths, the Weaknesses, the Opportunites and the Threats of this evening's two competing sides.

After a tied match loss against the Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab rebounded with a win over the Royal Challengers Bangalore. KXIP skipper KL Rahul hammered the RCB bowlers to all parts during the course of a record-breaking century. Rahul remained unbeaten on 132 and KXIP reached 206. Spinners Ravi Bishnoi and Murugan Ashwin picked up three scalps each.

In its previous match against the Chennai Super Kings, RR's batsmen ran riot and posted an imposing 216/7, which is the highest total of the season so far. Sanju Samson and captain Steve Smith showed their class. There were some lusty blows from Jofra Archer lower down the order. The bowling unit also clicked with three wickets for Rahul Tewatia and one each for Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal and Tom Curran.

The two teams come into this match after big wins in their previous matches.

Hello and welcome to the coverage of match 9 of the Indian Premier League. Tonight Rajasthan Royals face Kings XI Punjaba at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

K L Rahul is probably no. 1 player in IPL 2020, says Gautam Gambhir

“This was a proper inning. Not even a single slog in the innings to be honest. That is what the quality of the man is. He can hit those cricketing shots and with that much of impact and that much strike rate, he shows what he is capable of, I have to agree with Ian Bishop that in IPL, he is probably the no. 1 player at the moment,” said Gautam Gambhir.

Read more here

I wasn't feeling in control of batting: KL Rahul

"I have actually been not so confident (hitting it this well). I had a chat with Maxi (Glenn Maxwell) yesterday, he said how are you feeling, I said that I am not feeling completely in control of my batting, he said you must be joking, you are hitting really well," Rahul said at the post-match presentation.

Read more here

Can RR rule Sharjah again? | IPL 2020 Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab: SWOT Analysis

In its previous match against the Chennai Super Kings, RR's batsmen ran riot and posted an imposing 216/7, which is the highest total of the season so far. Sanju Samson and captain Steve Smith showed their class. There were some lusty blows from Jofra Archer lower down the order. The bowling unit also clicked with three wickets for Rahul Tewatia and one each for Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal and Tom Curran.

Read more here