Page 366 : CricBlog

IPL 2020 Match 7: CSK vs DC Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey

-

September 25, 2020 at 1:10 pm

IPL 2020 Match 7: CSK vs DC Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | CSK vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report

What’s an IPL tournament without significant focus on MS Dhoni?

The Chennai Super Kings captain was the centre of attention a few days ago, after sending himself in at number 7 and hitting three sixes when the game against Rajasthan was all but over. Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir was particularly vocal about Dhoni’s approach, which will have viewers waiting to see what CSK’s tactics will be in their third match of IPL 2020.

Truth be told, CSK might very well be glad that they move away from Sharjah for a little while. Their bowlers – particularly Piyush Chawla and Lungi Ngidi – struggled badly on the smaller field, copping the brunt of Sanju Samson, Steve Smith and Jofra Archer. The longer boundaries of Dubai will provide CSK’s bowlers with the extra insurance they desire, and will be looking to get back to winning ways after defeating MI first up and then losing to Rajasthan.

It was a whirlwind first match for Delhi Capitals five days ago, beating KXIP in a thrilling super over. Their record against CSK is woeful, so they will be banking on their new-found confidence since 2019 to help them over the line here. However, their tendency to collapse with the bat is an area where they need to improve, especially given Marcus Stoinis showed he can hit big in the death overs. With Kagiso Rabada, a genuine Purple Cap contender, leading the bowling attack brilliantly, DC can go into the match with strong belief that they can win their second of as many games in 2020.

Another thing to keep an eye on is the injury concerns in both camps. For CSK, Ambati Rayudu, who performed billiantly in game one, is down with a hamstring niggle, and is very unlikely to play. For DC, spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who is so important to the Delhi side, will also be assessed. Ashwin did say he felt fine after the KXIP match, but the decision will ultimately come down to whether management feel it is worth playing him with any niggle so early in the season.

Also read: How many of these IPL 2020 predictions will come true?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Eyes on MS Dhoni. When he bats at five or higher in IPL, CSK has a win percentage of 57%. When he bats at six or lower, this drops to 37%.
Also, Dhoni has the most runs in CSK-DC matches (529, avg. 40.69). Last season, Dhoni hit 32* (35) and 44* (22) against DC during the league stage.
What a performance by Marcus Stoinis for DC vs KXIP. He turned the match with an incredible 53 off 21 balls, before taking two wickets in the final over to force a Super Over (2/29).
Faf du Plessis has been in outstanding form in IPL 2020, with scores of 58* (44) and 72 (37). Also, du Plessis was player of the match in Qualifier 2 against DC in IPL 2019 (50 off 39 balls).
Shikhar Dhawan will be key for DC at the top of the order. In 21 matches against CSK, Dhawan has struck 641 runs at an avg. of 35.61 (SR 122.56). This includes 166 runs for Delhi against CSK at an average of 41.50.
Shreyas Iyer looked in good touch vs KXIP in DC’s last match (39 off 32 balls). Also, Iyer made three starts against CSK in 2019 (18, 44 and 13). Can he build on the starts and make a significant contribution?
Like Iyer, can Rishabh Pant build on his own starts? His last two IPL campaigns have been excellent: A total of 1,172 runs, avg. 45.08, SR: 173.89.
Shane Watson looked promising in his knock of 33 (21) vs RR last match. Also, Watson struck 50 off 32 balls vs DC in IPL 2019, Qualifier 2.
Sam Curran has been a breath of fresh air for CSK. He has taken four wickets in two matches (1/28 and 3/38), and is capable of producing important cameos with the bat (18 off 6 balls and 17 off 6 balls so far in 2020).
Kagiso Rabada continues to impress. Shreyas Iyer said that all is fine with KG at the backend of an innings. His performance vs KXIP (2/28 & two Super Over wickets) shows he can build on his superb campaign in 2019, where he took 25 wickets in 12 matches.
R Ashwin has six wickets in four matches vs CSK.
Time for CSK to unleash Imran Tahir? He was the top wicket-taker in IPL 2019 (26), including six wickets in three games vs DC.
Can Deepak Chahar cause problems for DC’s inconsistent top order? Chahar has taken 26 wickets in the powerplay overs since IPL 2018.

IPL 2020 Match 7: CSK vs DC Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | CSK vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today | Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report | Weather Report — IPL 2020 Match 7: CSK vs DC Preview Dream11 – Rishabh Pant to fire?

Stats and Facts

Head-to-head: Matches 21, CSK 15, DC 6.
CSK have won four of the last six matches against DC since IPL 2018.
Will CSK play Lungi Ngidi, given his great record vs Rishabh Pant? Six balls, seven runs, two dismissals.
Axar Patel has a magnificent record vs Shane Watson in IPL: 38 balls, 42 runs, five dismissals.
Kagiso Rabada has picked up at least two wickets in each of his last eight IPL matches. If he achieves the same today, he will break Lasith Malinga’s record.

Possible Playing 11

What is CSK’s best batting lineup? Dhoni at five? The statistics say yes. So, it will be interesting to see if he pushes himself up the order today. Also, Murali Vijay has looked out of sorts, and could be replaced by someone like Shardul Thakur, who can hit late runs and provide Dhoni with another bowling option. Plus, CSK could persist with Piyush Chawla due to the bigger boundaries of Dubai.

Ambati Rayudu is likely to sit out as CSK don’t want to risk him (details here). Also, Lungi Ngidi has been expensive in IPL 2020 so far, so they might look to replace him with Imran Tahir.

Also read: The brilliance of the MS Dhoni & Suresh Raina’s partnership

Chennai Super Kings: 1. Shane Watson, 2. Faf du Plessis, 3. Ruturaj Gaikwad, 4. Kedar Jadhav, 5. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 6. Sam Curran, 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Shardul Thakur, 9. Deepak Chahar, 10. Piyush Chawla, 11. Imran Tahir/Lungi Ngidi

Whether DC persist with the same team that beat KXIP depends on R Ashwin’s fitness. Reports suggest he will be assessed today (details here).

Delhi Capitals: 1. Prithvi Shaw, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Shimron Hetmyer, 4. Shreyas Iyer (c), 5. Rishabh Pant (wk), 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Axar Patel, 8. R Ashwin/Amit Mishra, 9. Kagiso Rabada, 10. Anrich Norje, 11. Mohit Sharma

Dubai Pitch and Weather Report

KL Rahul smashed 132* off 69 balls at Dubai yesterday – the highest ever score by an Indian player in IPL history. While RCB performed poorly with bat and ball, the pitch looked a good one for batting. With grass still evident on the track, more of the same can be expected here.

Interestingly, the team batting first has won all three games so far at Dubai in IPL 2020. There is the issue of dew in the second innings, but a good score first up can be difficult to chase. More hot weather is on the way.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fancy a bet on the cricket? today.

Match Prediction

CSK have a superb record against DC, and will be keen to bounce back after a loss last match vs RR. DC certainly have the players to cause problems, but CSK’s greater reliability could come up trumps. Perhaps a lot depends on where Dhoni chooses to bat.

Thanks for reading!

What is Chennai Super Kings’ best batting lineup?

Vaibhav Tripathi

-

September 25, 2020 at 1:02 am

0

What is Chennai Super Kings’ best batting lineup? | Discussing what CSK’s top 7 should be in their quest for the IPL 2020 Title

Chennai Super Kings started their IPL 2020 campaign with a last-over win over the Mumbai Indians in the season opener. In their next assignment against Rajasthan Royals, chasing a total of 217 at the iconic Sharjah, they didn’t make a brisk start and that resulted in wickets in quick succession.

Chasing a big total, all eyes were on MS Dhoni.

However, Dhoni again baffled everyone when he promoted the likes of Sam Curran and Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of him. Dhoni came in at 7 and when he launched sixes, it was already too late for CSK. This move also caught an eye of many former cricketers, most notably Gautam Gambhir, questioning his batting position and approach. MS himself said after the match that lack of match practice since the World Cup Semi Final and to try new things in the early stage of the tournament made him take that decision.

What this suggests is that CSK is still trying to find their perfect combination. So, let’s take a look at what could be CSK’s best top 7 to best enable them to pick up their fourth IPL Title:

1. Shane Watson

What is Chennai Super Kings' best batting lineup? | Discussing what CSK's top 7 should be in their quest for the IPL 2020 Title — *What is Chennai Super Kings’ best batting lineup?* Watson to open.

The dynamic opener is a vital cog in the CSK batting lineup. When on song, Watson can be as destructive as anyone. The experience of Watson and his ability to clear the ropes will makes him the best option for the opening slot.

2. Ruturaj Gaikwad

The 23-year-old sensation, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who didn’t feature in a single game before IPL 2020, was retained by the franchise and that suggests that they’re investing in him.

And Ruturaj’s record for his domestic team Maharashtra and India A suggests why they did so. With Murali Vijay not firing at the top, this gives him a chance to showcase his talent. The promising top-order batsman has the skill to build the innings and switch gears when the situation demands, making him an ideal choice to partner Watson at the top.

3. Faf du Plessis

After Raina pulled out of this edition of the IPL, the question was who’ll play his role in the team, i.e. who’ll bat at 3. Dhoni decided to go with Faf at 3 and it seems like Faf is enjoying this role as he has started the tournament with a bang: two consecutive half-centuries in two games.

Faf is the best suited to play the role of an anchor in this team as he has done this for his country in the past. The thing with Faf is he adapts to the situations and conditions well and then decides his tempo accordingly.

4. Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu started his journey with the franchise as an opener and now he has made the number 4 position his own. Rayudu has the game to bat anywhere in the batting order. He’s a very valuable player to this batting line-up, especially with tracks expected to be on the slower side in the later phase of the tournament. Before the start of this season, he accumulated 502 runs batting in the middle overs with an average of 41.83 coming at a strike rate of 125.19.

Rayudu’s part in the middle order will hold a key to CSK’s trophy hunt this year.

5. MS Dhoni

There were some questions raised when he came into bat at 7 in the game vs RR. With age not by his side, MS needs to bat higher up the order and 5 is the position where he should be batting. His numbers suggest the same. While batting at 5, his average is over 50 (50.08) and he strikes at 145.87 with 11 half-centuries to his name. The Thala of CSK will be playing as a floater like he has been doing since the last two years, his batting number will depend more on the number of overs left in an innings and the match situation.

Why MS Dhoni shouldn’t bat at 7:

He takes his time before going after the bowlers, so batting at 7 will mean he has to go from ball one which obviously is a difficult task for any batsman.
MSD will have more responsibility on his shoulders in absence of his trusted lieutenant Suresh Raina. Batting higher up the order will give him the desired opportunity to take his time early on and finishing up things in his style.

6. Kedar Jadhav

Not a big Striker of the ball, but MSD’s one of the most trusted players, Kedar Jadhav is one who’s very good at finding the gaps. He’s a very Street smart player, can play those cheeky shots, and can accumulate runs at a healthy strike-rate. With the top order already filled, Kedar has to find a way to score runs at 6. This isn’t new to him as he has batted at 6 for India as well, the format was different but his role was the same.

7. Ravindra Jadeja/Sam Curran

If CSK choose Jadeja or Curran for the top 7, the selected player will be the only left-hander in the top 7. With Raina not there, it’s most likely that MS might use either as a pinch hitter (as we saw with Curran), but again it all depends on the situations. Also, in the nets, Jadeja was particularly working on his ball-striking, preparing himself to face the minimum number of balls in an innings and to play a good hand with the bat. So, CSK have options here.

Another toss-up will be between Bravo and Curran. Bravo, who’s been their proven performer in the past, and Curran who already has impressed many with his all-round skills. Bravo of late has found to be guilty of scoring at a low strike rate with the bat in death overs whereas Curran’s addition has given the cushion to MSD and Jadeja.

To further strengthen their batting line-up, they can swap in Tahir for Lungi Ngidi, so that Shardul Thakur can come in place of Piyush Chawla. Shardul provides something extra with the bat. On some occasions, he has shown his potential with the bat for CSK and for the Indian team as well.

So, for CSK to go far in IPL 2020, they will need to nail down their batting lineup. Given Dhoni’s experience and know-how, you expect him to.

Written by Vaibhav Tripathi. Follow Vaibhav on Twitter today.

Dean Jones passes away: A fan’s tribute to a cricketing legend

Charbel Coorey

-

September 24, 2020 at 11:13 pm

0

Dean Jones passes away: A fan’s tribute to a cricketing legend | Australia cricket legend Dean Jones passes away: A tribute to the legend.

Shock. Total shock. After catching up with a friend for dinner, I came back home to watch some rugby league before attention turns fully to another day of IPL 2020. Then, out of nowhere, I see “Dean Jones 1961-2020” appear on the screen, and wonder if my eyes are deceiving me. Surely not. Surely.

It was meant to be another day of coverage for the great Dean Jones, part of Star Sport’s Select Dugout commentary team for the IPL. Instead, the whole cricketing world is stunned at his sudden passing due to cardiac arrest, aged only 59. The sheer number of tributes and outpouring of emotion is testament to the man Jones was – passionate, enthusiastic and incredibly likeable.

Dean Jones passes away: A fan's tribute to a cricketing legend | Australia cricket legend Dean Jones passes away: A tribute to the legend. — September 19, 2020. The look on Dean Jones’ face says it all. He just loved cricket.

When describing a great player, one can refer to whether you can count on that player in times of need. Against the magnificent West Indian juggernaut of the 80s, the packed stadium of Australian fans, and millions at home, always believed Australia could win if Jones has one of his great days. And those great days were in spades, with 6,068 runs at an average of 44.61 in 164 One Day Internationals for his country.

The numbers are outstanding, but there is a greater story. There is a reason why he is referred to as an “icon”, as it’s the manner in which he achieved those numbers. Jones played a key role in revolutionising ODI cricket, executing such incredible skill that made him ahead of his time. Walking down the pitch to a fast bowler was unthinkable then. But Jones did it. Jones turned seemingly risky singles into twos, which reflected his belief and positivity. The brilliant outfielding we see today? Jones helped transform fielding into a key asset for any team. By the late 80s, Jones formed part of a crucial core that enabled Australia to lift the World Cup for the first time, back in 1987.

His white ball prowess was more than matched by his red ball game. 3,631 Test runs at 46.88 are superb numbers in a challenging era for batting. His double century in Chennai against India in 1986 is one that sticks out in particular. It still stands as one of the great Test knocks, as Jones battled not only the Indian bowlers, but so much more. In just his third Test, and first in over two years, Jones dug in for 503 minutes in unspeakable heat, during which he threw up multiple times, including on the pitch. He also couldn’t control his bodily fluids. The conditions were ridiculous, but Jones’ resolve even more so, continuing on to reach 210 that told the world that Australia well and truly has a star in their side.

A superb international career, along with a magnificent first class career comprising of 19,188 runs at 51.85, makes anyone who watched him play quite devastated at the news. However, one thing that has caught my eye is the number of young fans also shocked and devastated, such is the impact Jones had as a commentator and pundit. A man with a sheer love for the game, Jones’ passion and enthusiasm was infectious. Whether it was his memorable call of a young Michael Clarke on debut taking on the great Anil Kumble at Bangalore in 2004, Bangladesh’s great win in their 100th Test in 2017 or his countless displays of gratitude, passion and enthusiasm, Jones had the ability to lift the callers around him, as well as the viewer.

Jones’ sudden passing due to a heart attack leaves a hole in cricket that no one can fill. Dean Jones the commentator, just like the player, was unique, enthusiastic and always seemed to be counting his lucky stars that he was talking about a game he loved so much.

“Deano” will be greatly missed. We thank you for everything. Rest in Peace.

Ambati Rayudu might miss CSK’s next match due to injury

Cricket News

Charbel Coorey

-

September 24, 2020 at 10:30 pm

0

Ambati Rayudu might miss CSK’s next match due to injury

After making a great start to IPL 2020, a mild hamstring niggle might hold Ambati Rayudu back from performing in the upcoming matches. CSK’s top order batsman scored 71 runs in the first match against Mumbai Indians and then missed the second one against Rajasthan Royals.

In a PTI report, CSK’s chief executive officer Kasi Viswanathan said that the injury is not serious however they can’t be sure if Rayudu will play. “It is not a serious injury. He has a mild niggle in hamstring. His participation in next game will be known only on match day”, he said.

Our #Bahubali is romba shy-type, but that smile is therapeutic. ???#SuperBirthday #WhistlePodu @RayuduAmbati pic.twitter.com/NN97XJi74U
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) September 23, 2020

Reportedly, Rayudu picked the niggle in the match against Mumbai. The Dhoni-lead team will be playing against Delhi Capitals in Friday. IPL 2020 has started with quite a few early injuries. Recently, Mitchell Marsh has also been ruled out of IPL 2020 due to ankle injury. Jason Holder, West Indies captain and one of the world’s top all-rounders is all set to join Sunrisers Hyderabad.

? Official Statement ?

Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out due to injury. We wish him a speedy recovery. Jason Holder will replace him for #Dream11IPL 2020 .#OrangeArmy #KeepRising
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) September 23, 2020

SRH’s official Twitter account took the time to wish Mitch Marsh a speedy recovery. “Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out due to injury. We wish him a speedy recovery. Jason Holder will replace him for #Dream11IPL 2020,” read the tweet.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

Pakistan all set to host Zimbabwe for white ball series

Cricket News

Charbel Coorey

-

September 24, 2020 at 7:17 pm

0

Pakistan all set to host Zimbabwe for white ball series

Pakistan is hosting Zimbabwe for an ODI and T20I series from October 30 to November 10. The country cricket boards is aiming to continue building Pakistan’s reputation and strengthen Pakistan’s ties with other countries by hosting international cricket series.

“The confirmation of the series schedule against Zimbabwe after having successfully hosted Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, as well as Marylebone Cricket Club and HBL Pakistan Super League V, in the 2019-20 season not only strengthens Pakistan’s reputation as a safe and secure country but also a healthy one after having successfully overcome the Covid-19 pandemic,” Zakir Khan said in a PCB statement. “This series is critical to Pakistan as it aspires to qualify directly for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 and, as such, every point in the Super League will count”, he added.

Going by the schedule, the three ODI matches will be held at Multan, after a gap of 12 years. “We have strategically scheduled Zimbabwe’s matches in Multan and Rawalpindi, the venues which will be hosting the National T20 Cup from 30 September to 18 October,” Khan said. “By the time Zimbabwe arrives, we would have gained enough experience on bio-securing hotels, player transportation, the venues and the players’ dressing rooms as delivery of this series will be under strict Covid-19 protocols to ensure the health and safety of all participants.”

Accoridng to the statement, Zimbabwe will be travelling to Pakistan with a 32-member squad and will land on October 20. The players will undergo Covid testing before taking off. After they land in Islamabad, the second round of testing will begin. “Players and player support personnel testing positive during the tour will have to observe a five-day self-isolation and will only be allowed to re-integrate with the side after two negative tests.”

After the ODI series, the teams will indulge in three T20 from November 7 to November 10 in Rawalpindi.

Pakistan vs Zimbabwe schedule:

Oct 30 – 1st ODI, Multan

Nov 1 – 2nd ODI, Multan

Nov 3 – 3rd ODI, Multan

Nov 7 – 1st T20I, Rawalpindi

Nov 8 – 2nd T20I, Rawalpindi

Nov 10 – 3rd T20I, Rawalpindi

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

No doubt that there’s going to be success: Mark Boucher

Cricket News

Charbel Coorey

-

September 24, 2020 at 3:14 pm

0

No doubt that there’s going to be success: Mark Boucher

South African cricket is in need of an urgent overhaul and revamp. The Proteas’ men’s team is positioned in lowly sixth spot in the ICC Test Rankings and occupies fifth place in both the ODI and T20I standings. Now, head coach Mark Boucher, along with his assistant Enoch Nkwe, are looking to turn this situation around.

Moreover, Cricket South Africa (CSA) is finalizing the future international and domestic fixtures of the team. The board is engaged in administrative mayhem currently, but Boucher is confident in improving the performances of the side on the field. Last month, the team took part in a culture camp at Skukuza in Mpumalanga. Apparently, there are now talks of formulating a new era for South African cricket. Boucher sheds light on the same.

“It was important for this team to create a new identity. It [just] happened a little bit later than expected. It was good to have a deeper squad as well. I haven’t really been given the opportunity to meet a lot of them personally so it was really nice to catch up with them – see a couple of new faces and see a couple of old faces‚ spend a bit of time together and get into the nitty-gritties about where we want to go as a team,” the former wicketkeeper-batsman was quoted as saying by Times Live.

The 43-year-old also hinted of bringing in a change in the attitude of the players. He observed that he didn’t want the bunch of cricketers to be a nice group of guys and be placed at the eighth spot in the world rankings. He added, “We’re all aligned in the right direction‚ and although it’s all still words – we still need to go out there and try and live it‚ rather than have it be words coming out of our mouths. I’m happy that the players are happy‚ but now the hard work starts.”

Boucher stressed on the importance of match practice. He expressed his satisfaction at some of his players taking part in the ongoing Indian Premier League as they would get some game-time for their respective franchises.

The stalwart hoped for the players to drive on the vision that they have developed for themselves once the group gets back to playing together. He admitted that as the side is young, they are prone to commit some mistakes. However, learning from those errors will make them a better team, according to Boucher.

The head coach stated, “I do believe that we’ve got the talent to do that and if we play in that sort of way‚ I have no doubt that there’s going to be success.”

“The players are keen to try something different in order to get different results‚ especially when we go to big tournaments,” he concluded.

Written by Anjali Jha. Follow Anjali on Twitter today.

IPL 2020 Match 6: KXIP vs RCB Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

Charbel Coorey

-

September 24, 2020 at 1:05 pm

0

IPL 2020 Match 6: KXIP vs RCB Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KXIP vs RCB Dream11 Prediction Today | Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report

Heading into IPL 2020, two of the big questions were whether Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab would finally escape from the depths of underachievement. However, after a game each in IPL 2020, one can safely say that both teams still have significant flaws.

For example, did RCB’s playing XI against SRH suggest that there is enough quality in the middle-lower order in case the top four doesn’t have a great day? Is Josh Philippe, a player who bats at the top in T20s, the answer at five? What about the likes of Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar as the finishers? Also, is the death bowling in good hands, especially if Chris Morris is unable to play due to a lingering side strain?

Similar applies to Kings XI Punjab. After a crazy match against DC, where the momentum ebbed and flowed throughout the contest, KXIP also have questions about their death bowling and middle order batting. These are areas they looked to rectify in the auction with the additions of the likes of Chris Jordan and Glenn Maxwell, but both had underwhelming returns first up. So, will KXIP stick with Jordan for this match, after going for 30 in a game-changing over last time out? How well can the middle order – which looks good on paper – perform?

However, it’s not fair to just harp on the negatives. RCB’s fightback with the ball vs SRH, courtesy of the brilliant and smart Yuzvendra Chahal, was a sight to behold. As was Devdutt Padikkal’s glittering debut, before the great AB de Villiers added the finishing touches. For KXIP, Mohammed Shami’s great spell of 3/15 vs DC, Ravi Bishnoi’s own promising debut, and Mayank Agarwal’s superb knock means that KL Rahul’s men also have positives to build on.

It makes for a cracking contest; one where you can’t be exactly sure which way the game will go, even if one team looks to be well on top. Bring it on.

Also read: Will RCB and KXIP make the playoffs in IPL 2020? CricBlog’s tournament predictions!