Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
Two teams who made a return to the IPL after a two-year exile. That’s pretty much the only similarity between the two sides in IPL 2018.
Rajasthan Royals have had a season plagued by inconsistency, headlined by many of their big hitters not firing. The only consistency they have had in IPL 2018 is consistently posting sub-par totals, and with their net run rate the worst of all teams, they need to put in a perfect performance tonight to boost it. If their batting fails to fire again, they can just about kiss their playoff chances goodbye.
Chennai Super Kings are in pole position to finish in the top two. Their batting form in IPL 2018 has been impressive, and their fans would have been especially pleased to see their bowlers dismantle an RCB line up that included Brendon McCullum, AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli last Saturday. If they can repeat their efforts with the ball, as well as show the kind of batting form that has headlined their campaign to date, they’ll just about seal a playoffs spot tonight.
Key to a Rajasthan Royals win
I sound like a broken record when it comes to RR, but they need more runs from their big hitters.
In their last start win against KXIP, they mustered 158/8, which was only six more than what they put up against the same opposition just a few days earlier. Against a CSK side that possesses more danger right throughout the order than KXIP do, it’s vital RR’s batsmen get in the runs.
Jos Buttler has hit three straight half centuries to make the opening position his own, but his 82 against KXIP represented over half the team’s total, with the next best score just 22. If RR are to win this game, they need two or three significant contributions. I’m looking closely at Ben Stokes, who averages just 17 with the bat in IPL 2018, with a SR of 127. Time to step up as RR are on their last legs.
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| Jos Buttler is in great form |
Key to a Chennai Super Kings win
CSK hold four of the top 10 totals in IPL 2018, including a mammoth 204/5 v RR in Pune on April 20.
RR’s bowlers have held their own pretty well in recent games, but CSK have what it takes to expose the inconsistency that remains in the RR attack. Ambati Rayudu holds the key, along with the likes of Shane Watson, Suresh Raina and IPL 2018 wonder finisher MS Dhoni.
The plethora of batting talent has held CSK in very good stead throughout the tournament so far, and will be the key for them again here. If their batting clicks, I don’t know if RR have enough runs in them to match CSK.
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| Ambati Rayudu continues to impress |
Possible teams
RR picked up an encouraging win v KXIP, even when KL Rahul hit an unbeaten 95. Expect them to stick with the same XI in their quest to put some pressure on the top four.
Rajasthan Royals XI: 1. Ajinkya Rahane (c), 2. Jos Buttler (wk), 3. Sanju Samson, 4. Ben Stokes, 5. Stuart Binny, 6. K Gowtham, 7. Mahipal Lomror, 8. Jofra Archer, 9. Jaydev Unadkat, 10. Ish Sodhi, 11. Anureet Singh
CSK’s bowling clicked into gear against RCB, headlined by 3/18 by Ravindra Jadeja. Expect CSK to also stick with a familiar playing XI.
Chennai Super Kings XI: 1. Shane Watson, 2. Ambati Rayudu, 3. Suresh Raina, 4. Dhruv Shorey, 5. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 6. Dwayne Bravo, 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. David Willey, 9. Harbhajan Singh, 10. Lungi Ngidi, 11. Shardul Thakur
Stats and Facts:
- Head-to-Head: Matches: 18, RR 6, CSK 12
- When these two teams met earlier this season, Shane Watson smashed 106 and CSK won by 74 runs.
- RR average 21.96 per wicket, which is the worst in IPL 2018. CSK average 36.90, which is the best.
- MS Dhoni needs 63 runs to reach 6,000 T20 runs (5th Indian if he gets there). In his last six innings, he has scored 25*, 70*, 26, 51*, 43*, 31*
- Ambati Rayudu is scoring at 9.64 during powerplay overs in IPL 2018, with an average of 172!
- RR have won just one of their last five games v CSK.
Prediction:
RR just aren’t scoring enough runs at the moment, and even at the Sawai Masingh Stadium, where RR have a good record, I back CSK to win. I also predict Ambati Rayudu will get man of the match.
