With the Chennai Super Kings slipping up on Sunday, the Kings XI Punjab will look to take a firm grip on top spot when they travel to the Feroz Shah Kotla to take on bottom side Delhi Daredevils.
Where to Watch Live:
Match 45 is scheduled for an 8 pm IST (3.30 pm BST, 10.30 am ET) start with live coverage on Sony Max (Hindi) and Sony Six (English) in India. The action can also be watched via live streaming online HERE or HERE. Viewers in the US can catch the game on Willow TV or with the live streaming option HERE, while Canada viewers can do the same HERE. Watch the match in the rest of the world HERE, HERE or through the GoCricket apps.
Viewers in the Middle East can watch the action on OSN with the live streaming option available HERE, while New Zealand viewers can do the same via Sky NZ or HERE or via the above rest of the world options. Viewers in the UK can catch the match on ITV, while Pakistan viewers can do the same on Geo Super, with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh audience able to watch the game on TV on Masaranga TV and Carlton Sports Network respectively.
KXIP have been a revelation in IPL 2014 and their stock only rose that bit higher thanks to the manner in which they won their previous game – making a target of 206 look like a Sunday morning stroll against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Wonderful early blitzes from Wriddhiman Saha and Manan Vohra set the game up for the likes of Glenn Maxwell, who was at his six-hitting best again, David Miller and George Bailey to finish the job, which they did with great aplomb.
Considering the form of the Daredevils at the moment, KXIP will look at the game on Monday as a perfect opportunity to move two points clear of CSK in the battle to finish top during the regular season.
The possibility of another 200+ score, if KXIP bat first, looks pretty good as the Daredevils' major weakness this season has been their bowling – not that the batting, barring JP Duminy's brilliance, has been too great either.
Since the loss of Nathan Coulter-Nile early in the campaign, DD have struggled to find their go-to bowler, someone who can cause a little bit of worry to the batsmen.
"Losing someone like Nathan has been a massive blow," DD bowling coach Eric Simons said. "He was an Aussie and would have that aggressive streak in him. We probably lacked a leader in the bowling attack, who could bowl in certain areas and dominate in the Powerplays.
"Actually, we haven't played with the confidence that some of the other teams have played. We have given too many runs at the death and have dropped catches. As a unit, we didn't function well."
Much was expected of this new-look Delhi lineup, with Gary Kirsten coming in as coach and the exciting Kevin Pietersen leading his troops in the field. However, after a 2-3 start in the UAE, things have gone rather pear-shaped for the Daredevils, with the team unable to win a single match since returning to India.
The six-match losing streak has made them favourites yet again for the wooden spoon, and winning their last three games will be scant consolation for what has been a forgettable IPL 2014.
Kings XI are at the other end of the scale, enjoying themselves, and then some, this year, while playing some of the most exciting cricket we have probably ever seen in the IPL. Their strength has always been chasing down totals, no matter what score, but just to give them that extra edge heading into the playoffs, Sanjay Bangar and co. might consider batting first if they win the toss.
For DD, pride and nothing else is at stake, with the team owing a good game to their fans, who have had to suffer one miserable defeat after another.
