New Zealand keeper-batsman Tim Seifert joins KKR | Kolkata Knight Riders have signed Tim Seifert as a replacement for the injured Ali Khan
Knight Riders Kolkata have added Tim Seifert New Zealand keeper-batsman to their team as Ali Khan has dropped out of IPL 2020 due to a side strain injury. The first USA national to play was roped in for Harry Gurney.
Seifert is likely to miss Plunket Shield as he will be representing KKR for this year’s IPL. It will be interesting to see how this additional role pans out as the team already has a set keeper-batsman – Dinesh Karthik. Khan and Seifert were part of Trinbago Knight Riders which is owned by KKR CEO Venky Mysore.
Ali Khan bagged 8 wickets in the tournament and Seifert scored 133 in nine innings. Recently Lockie Ferguson joined the team and showed excellent character. Skipper Eoin Morgan was super impressed with the Kiwi’s first show of the season. “For Lockie to come in for the first game of this tournament and perform in both the 20 overs game and the Super Over like he did, I think, was outstanding. The hunger and drive that he has shown off the field, waiting for an opportunity, really spurred the guys on,” said Morgan.
Ali Khan bagged 8 wickets in the tournament and Seifert scored 133 in nine innings. Recently Lockie Ferguson joined the team and showed excellent character. Skipper Eoin Morgan was super impressed with the Kiwi’s first show of the season. “For Lockie to come in for the first game of this tournament and perform in both the 20 overs game and the Super Over like he did, I think, was outstanding. The hunger and drive that he has shown off the field, waiting for an opportunity, really spurred the guys on,” said Morgan.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
England set to tour South Africa; will fly soon after IPL | According to reports, England will tour South Africa for white-ball series later in 2020
According to ESPNCricinfo report, the England team will depart in a charter flight to Cape Town, South Africa, and arrive on November 17 ahead of the series. The team will stay at the Vineyard Hotel and train at the Western Province Cricket Club. The two sides will play three ODIs and three T20Is on the tour at Newlands in Cape Town and Boland Park in Paarl.
South Africa’s government agreed to relax quarantine norms for the England team and allow them to practice ahead of the bilateral series. South Africa was critical about allowing the team to train even though the visitors are forming from a ‘high risk’ country.
“There is a huge responsibility not just to get to your home country’s fixtures underway, but a huge responsibility to facilitate other countries around the world. We will do what we can to try and get cricket back on, because it means a huge amount for people in lockdown in their own countries, and also for Cricket South Africa financially”, Eoin Morgan said.
“I know the worry we had about potentially not bowling a ball all summer and the detrimental impact that would have, probably to grassroots cricket more than any other part of the game. If the tour goes ahead, we’d love to come down, as the series we played last time was incredible”, he added.
England, being a country with concentrated Covid-19 cases, make decisions related to Covid-19 bio-secure bubbles very crucial. “As with any proposed tour that takes place at this time, the safety and welfare of our players and staff is paramount. As such, there are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration, including the proposed protocols in relation to COVID-19 bio-secure bubbles, the proposed levels of security around the team, as well as the feasibility of undertaking this tour against the backdrop of an already busy schedule of international cricket for the England men’s team”, said ECB in their statement.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
Sydney & Canberra likely to host Australia vs India white-ball matches | Australia vs India ODIs and T20Is likely to be in Sydney & Canberra
The Indian team is all set to visit Australia from next month for three ODIs on November 27 and 29 and December 1, and T20Is scheduled on December 4,6, and 8. For a long time, the decision was kept depending on who will host the team during the quarantine. According to the ESPNCricinfo, the tour is likely to start with a pink ball Test at Adelaide Oval between December 17 and 21.
As CA continues to discuss with health authorities and government officials in Queensland and South Australia about quarantine requirements for India’s national team, New South Wales, along with the Australian Capital Territory, have firmed in as favourites to host the ODIs and T20Is. The state of NSW is in favour of hotel quarantine along with supervised training in a bio-secure bubble.
“We’ve got ground availability, we’ve got the processes and we can certainly manage the biosecurity. We’d certainly be a very willing substitute. We’d be interested in helping cricket in any way we could”, Tony Shepherd, the SCG Trust chairman, told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“This is an extremely detailed and complex plan that places the health and safety of the community, players, and staff as paramount. There is clarification required in order to finalize arrangements”, a CA spokesperson said.
In next three weeks, after the ongoing IPL, the Australian and Indian Test players will leave for the Australia tour. “Perth and Adelaide were both investigated as potential quarantine options for the likes of Kohli, Steve Smith, Pat Cummins and Jasprit Bumrah before CA focused on creating plans for a Brisbane biosecurity bubble”, says Cricket Australia’s official statement.
Should an agreement be reached with New South Wales, the revised plan will then be submitted to the BCCI.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
IPL 2020 Match 39: KKR vs RCB Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KKR vs RCB Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
The playoffs race is well and truly heating up. After Kings XI Punjab’s third straight win, the teams inside the top four are on notice to continue building momentum, as any slip up will build pressure as the business end of the season fast approaches.
Kolkata Knight Riders, currently in fourth place, can give themselves an important buffer from the chasing pack. Currently on 10 points, KKR can move four points ahead of Kings XI, which is mighty important given their less-than-impressive net run rate of -0.607 (compared to KXIP’s -0.177). The decision to finally play Lockie Ferguson gives KKR another dimension, as the New Zealand fast bowler inspired a Super Over victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad on the weekend. New skipper Eoin Morgan will be hoping for more of the same from Ferguson, as well as a more well-rounded batting display from a team that has been up-and-down so far.
Royal Challengers Bangalore are enjoying their best season since 2016, and their bowling attack has been crucial to their good run of form. RCB have the chance to move level with Delhi Capitals on 14 points, and will be after a repeat of their earlier game against KKR this season, where they won by a massive 82 runs. Along with the bowlers, it was the “superhuman” AB de Villiers who delivered the goods then, and then again last game, blasting a magnificent 22-ball 55 to seal victory for RCB against RR. Can the Virat Kohli-led side take a massive stride towards the playoffs with a win here?
IPL 2020 Match 39: KKR vs RCB Preview Dream11: The playoffs race is heating up
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
AB de Villiers is in fine touch. The South African superstar has smashed two unbeaten half-centuries in his past three games, at an overall strike rate of 216.67. This included 73* off 33 balls vs KKR, prompting the RCB skipper to refer to him as “superhuman”.
However, the presence of Lockie Ferguson makes this match a different challenge for de Villiers and RCB. Ferguson produced a remarkable performance in his first game of the season, taking 3/15 and then two wickets in the Super Over vs SRH.
Virat Kohli has the most runs in the history of RCB-KKR matches (707, avg. 37.21, SR 129.96). Also, Kohli has been in excellent touch after a slow start to IPL 2020, with 329 runs in his last six innings at an average of 109.67.
Shubman Gill was the only KKR top order player to show any resistance against RCB earlier this season (34 off 25 balls). Also, Gill has made a plethora of starts in IPL 2020, with eight double-figure scores in a row, but no half-century in his last three matches (34, 21, 36). Is this the day he goes on with a start?
His opening partner, Rahul Tripathi, has a good record vs RCB: 6 inns, 212 runs, avg. 70.67, SR 133.33, HS 80*.
Will Andre Russell play? The star all-rounder, who has been out of form, injured his hamstring against SRH. So, it will be interesting to see if KKR play him in this game, as he has a remarkable batting record for KKR vs RCB (308 runs, avg. 51.33, SR 224.82).
If Russell doesn’t play, then Sunil Narine could be brought back. Narine has had his action cleared, and has the most wickets in KKR-RCB matches out of players in the two current squads (16 in 13 matches). Also, Narine has 194 runs against RCB at a strike rate of 200.
Eoin Morgan and Dinesh Karthik have key roles to play against RCB’s improved bowling. Both are coming off good contributions vs SRH (34* off 23 for Morgan, 29* off 14 for Karthik).
RCB’s improved bowling has been headlined by Chris Morris. The South African quick has had a superb start to life with RCB, with nine wickets in four matches so far at an economy rate of just 5.25. He is coming off 4/26 vs SRH, and took 2/17 vs KKR earlier this season.
Aaron Finch (47) and Devdutt Padikkal (32) put on 67 for the first wicket against KKR earlier in IPL 2020. Can they overcome the likes of Pat Cummins and Lockie Ferguson this time around? Finch has three double-figure scores in a row (47, 20 and 14), and Padikkal has made starts too (33, 32, 18 and 35), but at a sluggish strike rate of 111.32 in his last four games.
Yuzvendra Chahal took 1/12 in four overs vs KKR earlier this season. He has 12 career wickets in 13 matches for RCB vs KKR, and will be key today. Chahal took 3/24 in his only game at Abu Dhabi so far in IPL 2020.
His spin partner, Washington Sundar, was also superb in RCB’s win over KKR earlier this season (2/20). His economy rate for the tournament is still under six (5.89).
IPL 2020 Match 39: KKR vs RCB Preview Dream11: Kohli and de Villiers to deliver?
Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 26, KKR 15, RCB 11.
RCB have won the past two matches against KKR, including earlier this season by 82 runs.
AB de Villiers has come out to bat in the 11th-12th over three times in IPL 2020. RCB won all those matches, and de Villiers hit 50+ on all three occasions.
Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell average less than 15 vs Chris Morris in T20s. Morris will be key again at the death.
Both RCB and KKR have won four out of five matches when batting first.
Since IPL 2017, Lockie Ferguson has the best middle overs stats of any pace bowler (min. 10 overs): avg. 11, economy rate 4.8.
Possible Playing 11
Andre Russell picked up a hamstring injury vs SRH. So, it is possible he will miss this game.
Kolkata Knight Riders: 1. Shubman Gill, 2. Rahul Tripathi, 3. Nitish Rana, 4. Eoin Morgan (c), 5. Andre Russell/Sunil Narine, 6. Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7. Pat Cummins, 8. Lockie Ferguson, 9. Kuldeep Yadav, 10. Varun Chakravarthy, 11. Shivam Mavi
RCB look settled, but one decision they need to make is whether Gurkeerat Singh or Shivam Dube occupies a middle order spot.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1. Devdutt Padikkal, 2. Aaron Finch, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. AB de Villiers (wk), 5. Shivam Dube/ Gurkeerat Mann, 6. Chris Morris, 7. Washington Sundar, 8. Isuru Udana, 9. Navdeep Saini, 10. Shahbaz Ahmed, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal
Abu Dhabi Pitch and Weather Report
Chasing teams have enjoyed more success at Abu Dhabi compared to other grounds in IPL 2020. The team batting second has won six of 13 games on this ground this season, including three of the last four games. With dew around, it could be tempting for the captain to bowl first despite both sides possessing a good record when defending scores in 2020.
KKR looks a better side with Lockie Ferguson in it. His presence could actually release the pressure off Pat Cummins, with the two working well in tandem. If this happens, KKR have a great chance of winning. However, RCB start as deserved favourites due to their own good bowling performances.
Big Bash League can now include more international cricketers| Decision has been made to allow more internationals in BBL teams
In an attempt to improve the quality of the tournament, Cricket Australia (CA) has made a decision to add an additional overseas player in BBL XIs. Big Bash teams can now include three overseas players in their playing XI. According to reports from ESPNCricinfo, the Australian Cricketers Association was against this decision for a long time now, as it would take away a spot of local talent. However, Cricket Australia and broadcasting partner Channel Seven wanted an overseas player to feature in the lineup.
The following international players are announced to be on board by their respected teams:
Tom Curran (Sydney Sixers)
Tom Banton (Brisbane Heat)
Liam Livingstone (Perth Scorchers)
Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder); and
Dawid Malan (Hobart Hurricanes)
The permission to field another international player in every team will result in the induction of 20 new overseas individuals in the new league.
The news comes after there was talk earlier this year of introducing radical rule changes to help boost the attractiveness of the competition.
Reportedly, the teams are eager to sign up David Warner, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins. Most of the Australian players are likely to miss the BBL as International games are going to be held around the same time. Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Finch, Adam Zampa and Marcus Stoinis will miss major chunk.
Players such as AB de Villiers, Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan and Dale Steyn and emerging talents such as Jofra Archer, Rashid Khan and Sandeep Lamichhane have been vital to the growth of the BBL over its first nine seasons.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
After Lasith Malinga, Bumrah has taken the mantle for us: Kieron Pollard | Kieron Pollard full of praise for Jasprit Bumrah, who continues to impress
Mumbai Indians were at the top of the ladder until they lost to Kings XI Punjab in a double dose of Super Overs on Sunday. After the first over where Jasprit Bumrah just conceded five runs, Shami managed to defend six runs again Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock. Though MI lost in the second super over, Kieron Pollard praised Bumrah for his spell.
“He’s a world-class cricketer. He has been number one in a couple of formats for a long period of time. He has learned and has grown leaps and bounds for us at Mumbai Indians. We have comfort in him. A couple of years ago, we had a fit and fair Lasith Malinga and he (Bumrah) has taken over that mantle now”, Pollard said at the post-match press conference.
Yorker That!
What a delivery! Bumrah strikes and gets the big wicket of KL Rahul.
This year Malinga opted out of IPL due to some personal reasons. “Obviously there are decision-makers to make the decision, you know we can look at those things and say that’s where we lost the game but we played a very good game of cricket. We batted well,” said Pollard.
MI has lost two of their three matches due to Super Overs once with Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
IPL 2020 Match 38: KXIP vs DC Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KXIP vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report
Can Kings XI Punjab make a late surge towards the playoffs? That is the question on the lips of their long-suffering fans, after coming up trumps one of the IPL’s greatest ever days two nights ago.
The KL Rahul-led side would be ruing three other games that they lost from winning positions in the first half of the tournament. The first of those was against Delhi Capitals back on the second day of IPL 2020, where Marcus Stoinis’ 21-ball 53 and Punjab’s inability to score one run off the last three balls costing them dearly. Now, KXIP are on a two-match winning streak, and are the kind of team who can go on a great run of form. Interestingly, the previous two seasons (2018 and 2019) saw them have a magnificent first half of the campaign, only to fall away. This time, they had an awful first half, but will aiming to continue the momentum in the season’s second half.
But, it won’t be easy today. Time and time again, the Delhi Capitals have overcome challenging situations, with the latest being a Shikhar Dhawan-led chase against Chennai Super Kings. Incredibly, all of DC’s seven wins this season has seen a different player of the match (Stoinis, Shaw, Iyer, Pant, Ashwin, Nortje and Dhawan), highlighting the number of players this team can turn to in times of need – a quality that the great Mumbai Indians have. So, can DC keep their momentum going as they continue their journey towards a maiden IPL Title?
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
KL Rahul continues to make runs. Only Virat Kohli in 2016 had more runs at this stage (561) than Rahul’s 525 so far this season. Also, his strike rate finished above 150 against Mumbai Indians last match.
However, can Rahul overcome a modest record against DC? In 8 innings against them, he has struck 196 runs at an average of 24.50, which is far less than his IPL career average of 46.33.
The addition of Chris Gayle looks to have freed up Rahul. The “Universe Boss” returned two games ago with a half-century vs RCB, and hit a crucial six in the second Super Over vs MI. Also, Gayle has a superb career record vs DC, which KXIP will be hoping he can build on today: 14 inns, 450 runs, avg. 40.91, SR 154.11 (including 69 off 37 balls in 2019).
Mayank Agarwal hit 89 (60) vs DC earlier this season. The opening batsman remains second in the 2020 Orange Cap race with 393 runs, at an average of 43.66 (SR 159.10).
The battle between KXIP’s top order vs DC’s excellent spin duo of Axar Patel and R Ashwin will be key. Ashwin has enjoyed success vs Chris Gayle (four dismissals and SR 82.82) and Mayank Agarwal (four dismissals and avg. 10). KL Rahul averages just nine against Patel, at a strike rate of 75. Key battles.
How well is Shikhar Dhawan going? After a slow start to IPL 2020, Dhawan has burst into life, now sitting fourth in the IPL 2020 Orange Cap race (359, avg. 51.28). He has hit 69*, 57 and 101* in his last three knocks. His 627 career runs against KXIP come at an average of 29.86, but he is certainly in good enough form to build on that.
Shreyas Iyer has the most runs in DC-KXIP matches among current DC players (284, avg. 31.56). He helped resurrect DC’s flailing innings vs KXIP earlier this season with 39 (32).
Marcus Stoinis was man of the match in the DC-KXIP match earlier in 2020. His 53 (21) turned the game, and also took two wickets in the final over to force the match into a Super Over. He will be key again against KXIP’s shaky death bowling.
Deepak Hooda’s 23* (16) vs MI showed he can offer important value for KXIP in the middle order, which also contains the dangerous Nicholas Pooran (242 runs in IPL 2020, SR 181.95).
Kagiso Rabada is the fastest ever to 50 IPL wickets (27 games). He has an incredible 19 wickets in nine games in IPL 2020, including 2/28 vs KXIP earlier this season (part of six wickets in four games against them overall).
Mohammed Shami took 3/15 vs DC earlier in IPL 2020, which included the wickets of Prithvi Shaw (5) and Shreyas Iyer (39). The Indian seamer has been in good touch this season, with the third-most wickets of any bowler (14 in nine matches).
Ravi Bishnoi has enjoyed playing at Dubai this season: 1/22, 3/32, 0/33, 3/29 and 1/12.
Anrich Nortje has taken at least one wicket in five of his last six matches, including four wickets in his past two games.
IPL 2020 Match 38: KXIP vs DC Preview Dream11: KL Rahul to continue his incredible run-scoring form?
Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 25, KXIP 14, DC 11.
KXIP have won four of the past six clashes against DC. However, DC have won the past two.
Prithvi Shaw has hit a bit of a wall. He has been dismissed in the powerplay in his past three games (vs Boult, Archer and D Chahar). So, how will he cope with the likes of Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh?
Seam bowlers have taken 113 wickets at Dubai in IPL 2020 (econ. 8.6). Spinners have taken less wickets (67), but concede less per over (7.7).
Shikhar Dhawan needs 62 runs to bring up 5,000 IPL runs.
Possible Playing 11
What do KXIP do about the struggling Glenn Maxwell? The big-money purchase has not delivered to potential this season, so this is the game he might be replaced. James Neesham could come in, as he provides some batting cover as opposed to the likes of Mujeeb ur Rahman.
Kings XI Punjab: 1. KL Rahul (c & wk), 2. Mayank Agarwal, 3. Chris Gayle, 4. Nicholas Pooran, 5. Jimmy Neesham/Glenn Maxwell, 6. Deepak Hooda, 7. Chris Jordan, 8. M Ashwin, 9. Ravi Bishnoi, 10. Mohammed Shami, 11. Arshdeep Singh
Rishabh Pant is reportedly back in training after a minor hamstring injury. He could return in this game.
The team batting first has won 13 of 16 matches in IPL 2020. The average first innings score at this ground is 176 in IPL 2020, with the last three first innings scores being 161, 177 and 176. More dew in the later stages of the game could encourage the captain who wins the toss to field, but there is clear value in batting first.
It’s 1st vs 6th, but this could be more competitive than that. KXIP have had many good moments this season, and are likely to have some again today. However, DC’s composure in key moments give them a key edge.
Sourav Ganguly aims for a full-fledged Ranji Trophy in January 2021 | BCCI President Sourav Ganguly aiming for full Ranji Trophy for January 2021
2020 acted as a brick wall and hampered sports events in all possible ways. Though post-mid-year, countries have come together to organized spectator-less tournaments, it is the domestic cricket and women’s cricket in India that has faced a major loss. However, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has said on Saturday that the board is planning to have elaborate plans for junior cricket and women’s tournament.
The Apex Cricket Council disclosed that domestic cricket will tentatively start from January 1, 2021. While talking to PTI, Ganguly said, “We will certainly have the full-fledged Ranji Trophy. But it will probably not be possible to hold all tournaments. We also have elaborate plans for our age-group and women’s cricket. We will start with the Ranji Trophy and then we will also have the other tournaments between March and April”.
The board is planning to organise the matches in such a way that travel will be reduced for the teams. “Puducherry has six grounds and have offered to host. It can host the Plate Group games while the other Groups can play in three different centres. The main motive is to minimise travel for players. Bangalore also has a lot of grounds so it can be one option. Another option can be Dharamsala which has Bilaspur and Nadaun in its proximity”, a BCCI official told PTI.
The matches will be divided into four different groups – Group A, Group B, Group C, and Plate. “Cricket Australia has sent us an itinerary and we discussed the modalities of that itinerary. We will be playing four Tests and that will end in the third week of January. The England series is good three-and-a-half to four months away,” he said. “We still have time. We are monitoring the [Covid-19] situation, which is pretty fluid and will take a call accordingly”, Ganguly said.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
Best day of IPL ever?: Three Super Overs in One Day | Was Sunday 18 October the best day of IPL ever? | Two incredible games have a combined three Super Overs
The doubleheader of IPL on Sunday witnessed three super overs in two matches, making it a historic day. Kings XI Punjab gained two points after playing two super overs in one single match after Shami defended six runs against Rohit Sharma and Q de Kock with his excellent bowling spell. In the second super over, Mayank Agarwal and Chris Gayle chased down the 12 run target with one six and two boundaries.
The two Indian bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami gave a tough fight to the opposition team but KL Rahul’s quick run-out kept Quinton from completing the match winning run. Agarwal admitted of thinking about their last super over with Delhi Capitals, which was the first super over match of IPL 2020. “This is sport. It can get hard, but you definitely can’t do without it. For a moment or two, the DC game was in the back of my head, but the thinking was to watch the ball and hit the ball. It is amazing to be part of this game, which will go down in history. Hopefully we can sneak in, but we are not talking about it, we are not looking at the points. It is about each game and trying to win it”, said Agarwal in the post-match presentation.
Gayle might have won the match for Punjab, he wasn’t happy rather was angry before he came on to bat. “No I wasn’t nervous. I was a bit more angry and upset that we got ourselves in this position,” Gayle told Mayank Agarwal on IPLT20.com. “But it’s a game of cricket and these things do happen.
“Shami is the man of the match for me,” Gayle continued. “To defend six runs against Rohit and de Kock, that’s fantastic. That’s a great job. I have faced you in the nets and I know that you can nail those yorkers, and nail them well. Today he came and delivered and brought it home for us.”
In the first half of the day, Kolkata won two points after the new captain Eoin Morgan took charge. KKR brought Lockie Ferguson into the team and he picked three dismissals for 15 runs and also bowled the super over successfully. David Warner was diappointed by the results and blamed the middle over as they came so close to winning the game. “I don’t know where to start. At the end of the day, we probably leaked a few too many in the middle overs and at the back end. For us it’s about finishing games and we’ve failed the last 2-3 occasions. Not at all in two minds about bowling first. I thought this was a nice wicket that wouldn’t change and to be fair it didn’t. 165 was about par”, he said in post-match presentation.
Lock(ie) & loaded with Ferguson and Gill.
A spectacular relay catch together and a fiery spell of fast bowling – #KKR duo relive it all post their thrilling Super Over win in Abu Dhabi.
Hyderabad altered their approach in this encounter. The Sunrisers promoted Priyam Garg to number three as the youngster has displayed some serious promise during the course of the tournament. They also broke apart the lethal Warner-Bairstow opening partnership and instead promoted Kane Williamson to bat at the start along with the English wicketkeeper-batsman. Warner came out at number four and stayed unbeaten until the end, but couldn’t take his side home as Sunrisers succumbed to their sixth defeat of the season.
Best day of IPL ever?: Three Super Overs in One Day
One can definitely say that pacers stole the show on the day. Jasprit Bumrah’s proficiency is well-renowned, but the manner in which Mohammed Shami and Lockie Ferguson defended their side’s fortunes in the super over deserves equal applause as well. The IPL is very well into its second half of the season but the sheer number of close encounters makes the tournament and its matches quite unpredictable.
Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.
IPL 2020 Match 37: CSK vs RR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | CSK vs RR Dream11 Prediction Today | Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report
After one of the most dramatic days in IPL history on Sunday, attention turns to a must-win clash between two sides whose respective campaigns are on life support. So, there is every chance that there will be even more drama today.
It is usually a given that Chennai Super Kings qualify for the playoffs. But, in 2020, a year that has offered nothing but the unpredictable, CSK find themselves in a precarious situation. KKR’s win yesterday puts CSK four points off the playoff spots with five games remaining, after a sloppy fielding performance and injury to Dwayne Bravo cost them dearly against Delhi Capitals on Saturday. Today could be the day that Imran Tahir finally gets a game in IPL 2020, and CSK will be hoping that he has a big impact straight away.
Their opponents, Rajasthan Royals, have lost two straight since their miracle victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad last week. Disappointingly, they were in a good position to win both matches, particularly the last one against RCB. Steve Smith, after finding form with the bat along with Robin Uthappa, made a fatal decision to bowl Jaydev Unadkat instead of Jofra Archer in the penultimate over, and AB de Villiers took advantage. So, can Smith respond well to help RR bounce back after such a defeat?
Earlier this season, RR beat CSK courtesy of a magnificent knock by Sanju Samson at Sharjah. However, that was flat pitch and small ground in an early season game. Now, it is the slower Abu Dhabi track and larger boundaries in almost a virtual knockout clash. Who will hold their nerve?
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
Shane Watson has been in good touch in recent matches (83*, 50, 13, 42, 36). Also, Watson has a century for CSK vs RR. Can he deliver today?
Robin Uthappa reaped the rewards of a move back to opener. He is coming off 41 (22) vs RCB, and has 543 runs in 22 career matches vs CSK (avg. 30.17).
Steve Smith finally found some form with 57 (36) two days ago vs RCB. Like Uthappa, Smith also averages above 30 against CSK in his IPL career (11 inns, 291 runs, avg. 32.33).
Faf du Plessis, provided he is fit enough, will be key at the top for CSK. He is coming off 58 (44) vs DC, and scored 72 (37) vs RR earlier this season. Faf’s career stats for CSK vs RR: 7 inns, 227 runs, avg. 32.43, SR 129.71.
MS Dhoni is yet to find his best form in IPL 2020. However, today could be the day he delivers as he averages over 41 vs RR (452 runs), with a strike rate of 131.40.
Should RR ditch the desire for a left-right opening batting combination? RR would be better served playing Jos Buttler at opener, as that is where he has the most success in IPL (31 inns, 1,179 runs, avg. 40.66, SR 154.71). In all other positions he’s batted, Buttler has scored just 399 runs in 22 innings at an average of 22.17.
There is an injury cloud hovering over Ben Stokes. If fit, Stokes could offer more value in the middle order. His record for RR vs CSK is solid: 4 inns, 130 runs, avg. 32.50, SR 135.42.
Ravindra Jadeja has been in better form with the bat than ball this season. In fact, Jadeja has hit 50 (35), 21* (8), 7 (6), 25* (10) and 33* (13) in his past five matches.
But, Jadeja has a good overall record for CSK vs RR, with 15 wickets in 14 matches (most among CSK bowlers).
Sam Curran was out for a duck and took 1/35 vs DC. He still remains a crucial player with both bat and ball. He took 3/33 vs RR earlier this year.
Time for Imran Tahir? The 2019 Purple Cap winner has nine wickets in five matches vs Rajasthan Royals.
Jofra Archer’s 0/38 vs RCB was the first time he has gone wicketless in seven matches in IPL 2020. The fast bowler has nine wickets in 10 games vs CSK, and will be key against CSK’s top order.
Rajasthan have lost wickets regularly in the powerplay this season (27), so watch out for Deepak Chahar. He has seven wickets in four matches vs RR. Shardul Thakur could be used more at the death today – he has nine wickets in six games in IPL 2020.
Shreyas Gopal and Rahul Tewatia took four wickets combined vs CSK earlier this season. Also, Tewatia is having a fine season with the bat (222 runs, avg. 44.40, SR 145.09).
Karthik Tyagi has taken a wicket in each of his last five matches. His death bowling ability is excellent for a young bowler, and will be key at this stage again today.
IPL 2020 Match 37: CSK vs RR Preview Dream11: RR should open with Jos Buttler
Stats and Facts
Head-to-head: Matches 23, CSK 14, RR 9.
RR beat CSK earlier this season by 16 runs. Sanju Samson smashed 74 (32) in that game. However, he has scored just 77 runs in his last seven knocks.
Ambati Rayudu, who looked in good attacking form last game vs DC (45* off 25 balls), is just five away from 5,000 T20 runs.
Sam Curran averages over 50 and strikes at 241 vs spin this season. So, CSK will have to decide whether he opens again.
MS Dhoni will become the first player to play 200 IPL matches.
Possible Playing 11
Dwayne Bravo, according to coach Stephen Fleming, could be out a few days to a few weeks depending on the severity of his groin injury. Also, Faf du Plessis was involved in a strong collision with Kagiso Rabada vs DC and was feeling the effects afterwards. It remains to be seen if he is 100%.
Chennai Super Kings: 1. Faf du Plessis, 2. Sam Curran, 3. Shane Watson, 4. Ambati Rayudu, 5. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 6. Ravindra Jadeja, 7. Deepak Chahar, 8. Piyush Chawla/KM Asif, 9. Shardul Thakur, 10. Karn Sharma, 11. Josh Hazlewood/Imran Tahir
Ben Stokes was hobbling in the field against RCB, so it remains to be seen if he is fit for this match.
Rajasthan Royals: 1. Jos Buttler (wk), 2. Robin Uthappa, 3. Sanju Samson, 4. Steve Smith (c), 5. Ben Stokes/Tom Curran 6. Riyan Parag, 7. Rahul Tewatia, 8. Jofra Archer, 9. Shreyas Gopal/Mayank Markande, 10. Jaydev Unadkat, 11. Kartik Tyagi
Abu Dhabi Pitch and Weather Report
The team batting first has won seven of 13 matches at Abu Dhabi in IPL 2020. The chasing team is starting to find more success on this ground. But, with CSK’s chasing difficulties in 2020, batting first could be preferred by both teams.
Both of Sunday’s matches went into a Super Over, and this one could be very close, too. One worries if CSK are required to chase, so the toss could prove key.
