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IPL 33rd Match Preview: Kolkata Knight Riders v Chennai Super Kings

Charbel Coorey
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Two famous T20 franchises. Multiple IPL titles between them, and a thriller already in IPL 2018. I expect another thriller tonight.

Chennai Super Kings travel to Kolkata, with the Kolkata Knight Riders looking for revenge after failing to defend 200+ in their previous meeting with CSK, thanks mainly to Sam Billings’ incredible knock.

A great opportunity awaits KKR in terms of creating some breathing space between them and those behind them challenging for a playoffs spot. Like CSK, they have some concerns with their cricket in the death overs, but with Chris Lynn and the rest of the top order showing form, there is quite a bit to be encouraged about. Can they create a four point gap between them and RCB?

CSK’s batting continues to amaze, and puts them right in with a chance of lifting the IPL title on their return to the competition. Ambati Rayudu has been in amazing form, and MS Dhoni has re-discovered his finishing touch when many have doubted him. However, CSK’s bowling still needs improvement, and one wonders just how far they can go in the tournament if they continue to bowl the way they are.

Key to a Kolkata Knight Riders win

The last time KKR played CSK, they were 89/5 after 10 overs, before Andre Russell launched an incredible assault. To go one better and win this time, KKR need a fast start from their top order, as well as wickets in hand to try and better their run rate of 9.91 in the death overs (16-20).

Also, KKR must reign in CSK’s batsmen, who have the best run rate in the middle (8.54) and death overs (12.64). Regular wickets are key – can Mitchell Johnson (if picked ahead of Tom Curran) and Sunil Narine improve on recent performances, in conjunction with the likes of Kuldeep Yadav, Shivam Mavi and Piyush Chawla?

Key to a Chennai Super Kings win

CSK leak runs at 11.42 an over at the death, and if they bowl poorly to the likes of Andre Russell, their chances of victory will shorten significantly.
CSK have what it takes to beat KKR with their batting, with the likes of Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni in amazing touch. However, teams will fancy their chances of beating CSK because they can score runs against them, so if CSK’s bowlers get it right, especially in the powerplay and at the death, they are a great chance of going outright top of the league.

Possible teams

Kolkata Knight Riders XI: 1. Chris Lynn, 2. Sunil Narine, 3. Robin Uthappa, 4. Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), 5. Nitesh Rana, 6. Andre Russell, 7. Shubman Gill, 8. Piyush Chawla, 9. Kuldeep Yadav, 10. Shivam Mavi, 11. Tom Curran
Chennai Super Kings XI: 1. Shane Watson, 2. Faf du Plessis, 3. Suresh Raina, 4. Ambati Rayudu, 5. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 6. Ravindnra Jadeja, 7. Dwayne Bravo, 8. Karn Sharma, 9. Harbhajan Singh, 10. Shardul Thakur, 11. Lungi Ngidi

Stats & Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 17, KKR 6, CSK 11. CSK won the previous encounter in IPL 2018, a thrilling 200 v 200 battle.
  • Issue for KKR: In the last four matches, the opening partnerships against them have been 54, 116, 59 and 67.
  • Ambati Rayudu needs six runs to overtake Rishabh Pant as IPL 2018 leading run scorer.
  • MS Dhoni in IPL 2018: 286 runs, avg. 71.50, SR 169.23. Who said he was finished?
  • Sunil Narine in last four matches: one wicket, econ. rate 10.3, avg. 144.

Prediction

We could be in for another high scoring clash. In a match like this, CSK seem to have more players in top form than KKR, and could hold them in great stead. CSK to win and go outright top of the table.
Check out this popular article from January – Test cricket discussion!

IPL 32nd Match Preview: Delhi Daredevils v Rajasthan Royals

Charbel Coorey
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Last night, the loser of the RCB and MI match was going to be in big trouble in terms of trying to make it to the playoffs. Tonight, a similar scenario awaits Delhi Daredevils and Rajasthan Royals, with both sides needing a win to stay in touch with the top four.

DD played arguably the best batting team in their last game (CSK), and RR the best bowling side (SRH), and both are in need of improved performances in this crunch game.

Delhi Daredevils have promised plenty with the bat in the last two games, scoring a total of 417 runs, and would be confident of continuing the good batting run they are currently on. Also, they’d fancy their chances of restricting RR, a side struggling with the bat at the moment. However, if they just expect this to happen, they’ll be in for a shock – they’ll need to put in a better bowling effort than what was on show against CSK.

Rajasthan Royals looked on track to beat SRH, but all that ended up happening was criticism aimed at their batting for a disappointing chase. Opinions differed among fans on who was most to blame, instead of rejoicing in victory after their bowlers did a superb job in restricting SRH to just 31 runs in their final five overs. Ajinkya Rahane tried his best to change gears during his unbeaten 65, but it wasn’t the case, in the midst of losing his more powerful strike partners such as Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler to soft dismissals. Can RR put a complete batting performance together?

Key to a Delhi Daredevils win

DD certainly have what it takes to win this clash. 
They didn’t win the crunch moments against CSK, and paid a price as a result. DD couldn’t take regular wickets to stem the flow of runs, and against a RR side whose power hitters aren’t firing, a great opportunity awaits DD.
One thinks if that Glenn Maxwell can fire as we know we can, with contributions from a potentially brutal top order, DD can score enough runs to defeat RR. Can they win the crunch moments in a crunch game?

Key to a Rajasthan Royals win

Ajinkya Rahane struggled to shift gears in key moments of the chase against SRH, and he was rightly under the spotlight as a result.
However, RR’s power hitters are hitting blank. Ben Stokes got bowled off a half-tracker from Yusuf Pathan, who was bowling just his second ball of IPL 2018. For RS 12.5 crore, RR just aren’t getting enough from Ben Stokes. More is needed also from Rahul Tripathi and Jos Buttler as time is running out in the quest to find top form in the race for the playoffs.
Also, expect RR’s bowlers to face a stiffer test from DD, so top order wickets is key to get into the middle order. Can RS 11.5 crore man Jaydev Unadkat produce better? Can the spinners effectively target Glenn Maxwell, who has been dismissed four times in 36 balls against spin this season? It remains to be seen.

Predicted teams

DD’s bowlers went the distance against CSK, but it’s worth persisting with them again after a good effort against KKR, albeit when defending 219.
Delhi Daredevils XI: 1. Colin Munro, 2. Prithvi Shaw, 3. Shreyas Iyer (c), 4. Rishabh Pant (wk), 5. Glenn Maxwell, 6. Vijay Shankar, 7. Rahul Tewatia, 8. Liam Plunkett, 9. Amit Mishra, 10. Avesh Khan, 11. Trent Boult
Despite their inconsistent performances, RR can overtake RCB and sit equal fourth with KKR if they win. Expect them to stick with a similar, if not same, team.
Rajasthan Royals XI: 1. Ajinkya Rahane (c), 2. Rahul Tripathi, 3. Sanju Samson, 4. Ben Stokes, 5. Jos Buttler (wk), 6. Mahipal Lomror, 7. K Gowtham, 8. Jofra Archer, 9. Dhawal Kulkarni, 10. Ish Sodhi, 11. Jaydev Unadkat

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 17, DD 6, RR 11. The previous meeting between these two teams was in IPL 2018, where RR defended 71 in six overs in a rain affected game.
  • RR have beaten DD in the last seven meetings between the two teams.
  • RR have taken 33 wickets this season, the least of all teams (even RCB)!
  • DD will move off the bottom of the table, ahead of both MI and RR, with a win tonight.

Prediction:

RR have a great record against DD, and in trying circumstances, they need another badly. 
However, DD’s batsmen look in better form, and I expect them to fire against RR. I think Colin Munro will have his best game in IPL 2018 to date, and DD’s batting will be too much for RR. DD to win.
Check out this popular article from January – Test cricket discussion!

IPL 31st Match Preview: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Mumbai Indians

Charbel Coorey
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0

Time is running out.

Not much room for error.

Two teams who have underperformed so far need to get it right.

The beauty of IPL 2018 is that even with two teams languishing near the bottom, we can expect an exciting clash, full of quality players. Both Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians were in my predicted final four, and in the final four of many cricket fans and pundits, but it’s almost certain at least one of these two will miss out on the playoffs.

Royal Challengers Bangalore continue to be the victims of Twitter trolling. Given the cricket they’ve played, especially their bowling and fielding, they deserve it. Virat Kohli seems to have too much on his plate, firstly by ensuring he scores the runs his team needs, and then trying to lead a team that look like headless chickens on the field. An economy rate of 13.18 at the death is unacceptable, and time is quickly running out to show an improvement in this area.

Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, have a chance to go on one of their familiar runs to the playoffs. While they sit equal on the table with their opponents tonight, they have played much better cricket than them, and now have the chance to beat RCB for the second time this season. Their bowlers have held their own really well in recent games, and their top order clicked nicely against CSK. Another good opportunity awaits against a struggling RCB. Can they make it two straight and launch their run to the playoffs?

Key to a Royal Challengers Bangalore win

Can their bowling hold up against a MI side that’s threatening to get going in IPL 2018? Also, will 
AB de Villiers be fit to play after illness? Those are the two big questions.
Against KKR, I almost felt as though Virat Kohli was a little cautious early in his innings (while still being aggressive – yes, he’s an incredible player), because of no ABD in the side. If ABD does play, the top order will need to score the bulk of the runs, as is usually the case.
Also, while their bowling and fielding failed again, it was good to see RCB try some different combinations. The same attack that was fielded against KKR will probably get another shot, and it’s important they put in a better display – can they get early wickets against MI, expose an inconsistent middle order and bowl well at the death?

Key to a Mumbai Indians win

In a game like this, MI can concede 200 and still win.
RCB have conceded 200+ in three of their seven games so far, and one can assume that if they managed 200+ v KKR, KKR would have still chased it down. The key for MI in this game is for the top order to lay a solid platform for the likes of JP Duminy and Hardik Pandya to launch in those dreaded death overs for RCB.

Possible teams:

If ABD returns for RCB, expect it to be at the expense of Brendon McCullum, who couldn’t quite get going against KKR. There is also talk Colin de Grandhomme could be the one to miss out, but that would be a bit harsh on him when Corey Anderson got three chances.
Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers could both bat in the top three, which does expose the middle order significantly if they don’t fire. Also, expect M Ashwin to play, despite his poor fielding in the last game.
Royal Challengers Bangalore XI: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Manan Vohra, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. AB de Villiers/Brendon McCullum, 5. Mandeep Singh, 6. Colin de Grandhomme, 7. Tim Southee, 8. M Ashwin, 9. Umesh Yadav, 10. Yuzvendra Chahal, 11. Mohammed Siraj
For MI, they could make one change and bring in Mustafizur Rahman for Ben Cutting.
Mumbai Indians XI: 1. Suryakumar Yadav, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Rohit Sharma (c), 4. Ishan Kishan (wk), 5. Hardik Pandya, 6. JP Duminy, 7. Krunal Pandya, 8. Mitchell McClenaghan, 9. Mayank Markande, 10. Jasprit Bumrah, 11. Mustafizur Rahman
Check out this popular article from January – Test cricket discussion!

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 22, RCB 8, MI 14. In the previous meeting, MI smashed RCB by 46 runs.
  • In IPL 2015, both these two teams were exactly in the same position (2 wins, 5 losses). RCB finished 2nd on the table, while MI won the tournament.
  • RCB have won only one of eight games v MI at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. They have also won just three of their last 11 at Bengaluru v all opponents.
  • RCB have the worst death overs (16-20) economy rate in IPL 2018 (13.18), and MI have lost the most wickets at this stage (21).
  • MI have beaten RCB five times in a row.

Prediction:

I have more faith in MI getting the job done. They are perennial slow starters, and the stage is set for them to get their season going against an RCB side that continues to underwhelm in key moments. MI for the win, with Rohit Sharma once again having a good game.

IPL Match 30 Preview: Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Daredevils

Charbel Coorey
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0

Before Delhi Daredevils’ last game, the big question was whether new leadership will see a turnaround in their fortunes. It was absolutely the case, with Shreyas Iyer the architect of a massive win against KKR. DD are in a position where they must win multiple games in a row to push for a playoffs spot, and face a CSK side looking to bounce back after a defeat to MI.

Whether Delhi Daredevils are truly back depends on how they back up their effort against KKR. Their margin of victory shocked us almost as much as he resignation of Gautam Gambhir as captain, and at the halfway point of the campaign, DD can put further pressure on the likes of RCB and MI in the push for a playoffs spot. Shreyas Iyer and the bowlers were simply superb in blowing KKR away – can DD show it wasn’t just a one-off?

Chennai Super Kings are also tasked with proving things weren’t just a one-off, but for different reasons. The finish to their innings against MI was flat, not consistent with their death-overs batting throughout the tournament so far. Just 78 runs were scored in the last ten overs a couple of nights ago, and their bowling lacked penetration throughout most of the MI innings. CSK’s bounce back factor will be put to the test against a DD side looking to build momentum.

What a knock it was by Shreyas Iyer vs KKR

Key to a Chennai Super Kings win

CSK have the batting prowess, but can the bowlers hold their own? It hasn’t been the case so far, with CSK one of the worst teams with the ball after the 6th over of an innings. In fact, they are second worst to *drum roll* (no prizes for guessing)…. RCB.

In IPL 2018, CSK concede 9.38 runs per over after the powerplay overs. With MI needing 22 off two overs the other night, CSK conceded these runs quite comfortably at the end. Against a DD side that has had a massive confidence boost, CSK need to get their bowling right, because if they do, their
batting has enough runs in them to deliver victory.

Key to a Delhi Daredevils win

DD now hold the highest score of IPL 2018 (219/4), and this will be their key to victory against a CSK side that struggles to control things after the powerplay overs.

On paper, DD certainly have a good batting line up that hasn’t fired until the game v KKR, where four of the top five made excellent contributions. Apart from Shreyas Iyer’s amazing 93* off 40 balls, Prithvi Shaw highlighted his talent with 62, and Colin Munro showed some form in his 33. Out of Shaw, Munro, Iyer and Maxwell, the lowest strike rate was a mere 140!

If they fire again, CSK could be in for a tough night. 

Possible teams:

I expect to see David Willey play in this game, thanks to his hitting prowess as well as what he can offer with his left-arm seam. He has been a part of a successful Perth Scorchers team in the Australian BBL, so it makes sense to give him a go here, potentially ahead of either Shane Watson or fellow Englishman Sam Billings. 
Also, Deepak Chahar is out with a hamstring injury, which means Mark Wood will likely come in.
Chennai Super Kings XI: 1. Shane Watson, 2. Ambati Rayudu, 3. Suresh Raina, 4. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 5. David Willey, 6. Ravindra Jadeja, 7. Dwayne Bravo, 8. Karn Sharma, 9. Harbhajan Singh, 10. Mark Wood, 11. Shardul Thakur
Expect DD to stick with the same team that thrashed KKR.
Delhi Daredevils XI: 1. Prithvi Shaw, 2. Colin Munro, 3. Shreyas Iyer (c), 4. Rishabh Pant (wk), 5. Glenn Maxwell, 6. Vijay Shankar, 7. Rahul Tewatia, 8. Liam Plunkett, 9. Amit Mishra, 10. Trent Boult, 11. Avesh Khan
Check out this popular article from January – Test cricket discussion!

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 16, CSK 11, DD 5. This is the first time these two teams will play each other this season.
  • CSK have their troubles with the ball, but with the bat, they have lost the fewest wickets (37) and have the highest overall scoring rate (9.54) in IPL 2018.
  • Harbhajan Singh has taken the most wickets out of any bowler against DD (21 wickets at 20 with econ. 6.68).
  • Glenn Maxwell vs CSK: 204 runs in four innings, SR 202.
  • David Willey could very well play for CSK tonight: In middle overs of all T20s since IPL 2015, his SR is 170.6. At the death, it’s still a solid 157.5. With the ball, he only goes for 7.4 an over in powerplay overs.

Prediction:

Another match that can go either way – the beauty of IPL 2018. 
I’m interested to see how both teams to respond to their last start results. I think DD have plenty of power and can take advantage of a CSK attack that isn’t performing at its best at the moment. Sure, CSK can also score big potentially against DD, but I think DD will win this one and get their third win of the season.

IPL 29th Match Preview: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kolkata Knight Riders

Charbel Coorey
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0

Massive stakes game.

Royal Challengers Bangalore are desperate to put more IPL disappointment behind them and get their tournament headed in the right direction. Time is running out for them. Kolkata Knight Riders not long ago were top of the IPL table, but with two straight defeats, including a crushing one at the hands of DD two nights ago, they could find themselves out of the top four with eight games played.

Both sides need to win.

Royal Challengers Bangalore continue to make their fans want to pull their hair out in frustration. They continue to promise plenty, but deliver little, and now face must-win territory as they will be four points outside the top four if they lose tonight. Their death bowling is nothing short of horrendous, throwing away another possible victory against CSK. They have now conceded 200+ in three of their six games; no matter how good your batting is (and it has been very good), winning will always be difficult. This game is the time to make changes.

Kolkata Knight Riders will want to get their season back on track after channeling their inner RCB and conceding a 200+ total of their own against DD. Their fielding was also pretty awful too, which is something they can’t afford against a strong RCB batting side on a ground made for big runs. Their bowlers will want to hit form again, and if they can do that in Bengaluru, they are a chance of victory.

Key to a Royal Challengers Bangalore win

Good death bowling.
RCB’s batting and powerplay bowling gives fans enough confidence that they can fare well. AB de
Villiers in particular continues to show off his freakish skills. However, where they have really struggled is at the death.
Since the onslaught by Sunil Narine against them, RCB have done relatively well with the ball in powerplay overs. In these overs, they have conceded 8.14 per over, with 10 wickets taken in five matches – these overs have actually helped keep them in matches.
However, their death bowling is a massive concern, which will surely force them into changes for tonight’s match. They concede well over 13 an over in this period, and has cost them matches, such as the last game v CSK. They must improve, and they must start now if they have any dreams of making an impact in this competition.

Key to a Kolkata Knight Riders win

Expose RCB’s frailties with the ball, especially at the death. This game is made for an Andre Russell onslaught.
However, before Andre Russell can launch effectively, good groundwork needs to be laid by the top order. Chris Lynn remains inconsistent in IPL 2018, but this is his chance to shine, with support of Sunil Narine who simply loves RCB. Robin Uthappa and Nitish Rana will also be keen to get in the runs after quiet outings against DD
If KKR’s top order gets going, providing the platform for Russell to launch, you can almost kiss RCB’s chances goodbye…

Possible teams

Time for RCB to ring in the changes. There is surely no way Corey Anderson will play, struggling with the bat, and then being tasked with bowling at the death. Expect both Kiwis Colin de Grandhomme and Tim Southee to come in to provide more bowling cover, as well as hitting ability with the bat.
Royal Challengers Bangalore XI: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Manan Vohra, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. AB de Villiers, 5. Mandeep Singh, 6. Colin de Grandhomme, 7. Pawan Negi, 8. Washington Sundar, 9. Tim Southee, 10. Umesh Yadav, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal
For KKR, I can’t see them making any significant changes like RCB, despite their heavy defeat against DD.
Kolkata Knight Riders XI: 1. Chris Lynn, 2. Sunil Narine, 3. Robin Uthappa, 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), 6. Andre Russell, 7. Shubman Gill, 8. Piyush Chawla, 9. Mitchell Johnson, 10. Kuldeep Yadav, 11. Shivam Mavi

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 21, RCB 9, KKR 12
  • KKR’s opening partnerships have averaged just 12 this season. This is an opportunity for RCB to exploit.
  • Good luck RCB. KKR have scored 64% of their runs in boundaries (most in IPL), whereas RCB have conceded 64.57% runs in boundaries (most in IPL).
  • AB de Villiers in IPL 2018: 280 runs, avg. 56, SR: 184.21
  • RCB concede 13.29 an over at the death, the worst of any team in IPL 2018.

Prediction:

Desperation time for RCB. They can’t afford to be four points behind the top four at the halfway point of their campaign.
I think the additions of Tim Southee and Colin de Grandhomme, while not T20 superstars, will be positive ones. With RCB’s batting quite strong, and the focus on improved death bowling, I expect them to sneak through in a tight, high-scoring affair.

IPL 28th Match Preview: Rajasthan Royals v Sunrisers Hyderabad

Charbel Coorey
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0

Chance for one team to move into the top four. Chance for the other to go outright top of the table. Plenty is at stake when Rajasthan Royals host Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first of two games today.

Rajasthan Royals have had a pretty mixed tournament so far, dishing up some rubbish cricket with some good stuff, and have the chance now to overtake KKR to take fourth place at the halfway mark of the group stage. Over their first six games, the possibility of Jofra Archer playing left you hanging like a typical CSK or MI game, and his addition to the RR side was welcomed against MI. K Gowtham has had an up-and-down tournament, replicating his team, but he delivered in the clutch moments to give RR a chance to sit in the top four ahead of four games in the next ten days. Can RR put together a more complete batting performance against a strong SRH bowling unit?

I have nothing but admiration for Sunrisers Hyderabad at the moment. They sit equal top of the table with CSK and KXIP, both of which have based their success so far on their batting. SRH have comfortably won their last two games scoring a total of just 250 runs across 38.4 overs. The return to form of Rashid Khan has driven this, but as a bowling unit, they continue to impress. They’d like their batting to step up though – will today be the day they get it right?

Key to a Rajasthan Royals win

Over the last few days, MI and KXIP failed miserably when the game was there to be won against SRH. They weren’t able to handle the threat of SRH’s well-rounded attack, even without Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Billy Stanlake.
RR in this game can’t afford to rely on one or two players to bail them out. They are yet to show game-to-game consistency with the bat, but will be encouraged by the continued form of Sanju Samson, as well as runs from Ben Stokes (40 from 27) against MI. However, against MI, just three players crossed 20, which included K Gowtham’s incredible, match-winning 33 off 11 balls. Onus will be on Ajinkya Rahane, who boasts a good record at the Sawai Masingh Stadium, to get RR off to a good start.
If RR are to have thoughts of winning this game, their batting needs to click. If they do, they can certainly beat an SRH side whose batting continues to underwhelm. The scenario is simple – SRH rely on their bowling, so can RR nullify this?

Key to a Sunrisers Hyderabad win

The bowling has been the central point of all victories for SRH in IPL 2018. They looked gone against both MI and KXIP, but displayed their never-say-die attitude once again. In IPL 2018, they have the best economy rates out of all teams in all stages of an innings. In the powerplay overs, they concede 6.97 an over (avg. 8.59), in the middle it’s 7.17 (avg. 8.10) and in the death overs it’s an incredible 7.41 (avg. 9.98).
They have proven they can defend very low scores, so can they exploit RR’s uncertain batting line up? In their last game against RR, they cantered to a nine-wicket victory, off the back of their bowlers who restricted RR to 125/9.
If SRH bowl first, they need to look to restrict RR below 150. If they bat first, anything over 140 can be a winnable score. As has been the case in their two losses, if their bowling doesn’t click, they don’t win. They’ll need to click once again here.

Predicted teams

Other than Sanju Samson, Ben Stokes and K Gowtham, the remaining six RR batsmen contributed just 39 runs against MI. Against a strong SRH attack, the likes of Rahane, Buttler and Klaasen need to fire as well. Also, onus will be on the bowlers. who are bolstered by the talented Jofra Archer, to restrict SRH’s batsmen.
Rajasthan Royals XI: 1. Ajinkya Rahane (c), 2. Rahul Tripathi, 3. Sanju Samson, 4. Ben Stokes, 5. Jos Buttler (wk), 6. Heinrich Klaasen, 7. Dhawal Kulkarni, 8. K Gowtham, 9. Shreyas Gopal, 10. Jaydev Unadkat, 11. Jofra Archer
Basil Thampi and Sandeep Sharma have been superb for the SRH cause, but one may have to miss out for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is reported to be fit enough to play. Also, should Alex Hales play? Should he replace Nabi or Shakib? It will be interesting to see if SRH decide to go with an option which gives them more power at the top.
Sunrisers Hyderabad XI: 1. Shikhar Dhawan, 2. Kane Williamson (c), 3. Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 4. Manish Pandey, 5. Yusuf Pathan, 6. Shakib Al Hasan, 7. Mohammad Nabi, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Siddarth Kaul, 11. Basil Thampi or Sandeep Sharma
 

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-Head: Both teams are locked at four wins each after eight games.
  • Rashid Khan has taken 5/30 in his last eight overs, after conceded 104 in his previous eight.
  • Both these two teams have the lowest boundary percentages in IPL 2018 (RR 50.26% and SRH 51.61%).
  • Ajinkya Rahane averages 40.3 at Sawai Masingh Stadium. He has a vital role to play today, and so does Rahul Tripathi at the top of the RR order.

Prediction:

Big game for both teams, for different reasons. I think both teams’ batting leaves plenty to be desired, but SRH’s bowling wins hands down. I expect SRH to win thanks to their bowlers, and go top of the table.

IPL Match 27 Preview: Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians

Charbel Coorey
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0

The team that finds incredible ways to win vs. the team that finds incredible ways to lose.  It is remarkable to think these teams, in a parallel universe, could be sitting at opposite ends of the table. However, it’s also easy to see why this is not the case.

Chennai Super Kings have been magnificent in the crunch moments, and deserve to be sitting at the top end of the IPL 2018 table. Time and time again, they have refused to give up, and come up with the goods, evident yet again in their last game against RCB, chasing 205 after being 70/4. In a rematch of IPL 2018’s amazing first game, can they cause further heartbreak for MI?

Not even the birthday of the great Sachin Tendulkar could inspire Mumbai Indians to turn their season around against SRH at the Wankhede. You could use many harsh, unkind adjectives to describe their 87 all out debacle, but they have to put it behind them and win this game, as they are moving further away from the pack. With DD’s win last night, MI are now outright last on the table, and now have to find a way to replicate their successful 2015 campaign, where they also lost five of their first six games.

Tough start to the season for defending champs MI…

Key to a Chennai Super Kings win

Get this game to go right down the wire. They’ll succeed, MI will crumble. Easy.
In all seriousness, CSK’s death bowling leaves a little to be desired, highlighted by an economy rate of 11.27 between overs 15 and 20 so far in IPL 2018. MI’s passage back into the tournament could very well depend on how their batting fares, so it’s important CSK restrict MI as much as possible. Also, if CSK can start well with the ball, getting into MI’s dangerous top order as quickly as possible, it will hold them in good stead.
I’m certainly confident about CSK’s batting, headlined by Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni in recent times, but if they can put in a good bowling display, MI could be searching longer for their second 
win.

Key to a Mumbai Indians win
Their bowling clicked beautifully against SRH, with each member of the bowling attack holding their own. A target of 119 should have been a comfortable chase, but as has been the case in IPL 2018, MI have disappointed when it has mattered.
If their batting doesn’t fire again in this game, I can’t see them beating a strong CSK batting line up. The role of Kieron Pollard in the team continues to be up in the air, and it is no coincidence that in the one game skipper Rohit Sharma has fired so far, MI won it. 
Big responsibility is on those two to deliver better results, and so too the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Evin Lewis and Ishan Kishan to deliver a strong start for MI, to give their inconsistent middle order the best possible chance to fire. 

Predicted teams

CSK look good at the moment, and are on track to continue their momentum. Imran Tahir and Dwayne Bravo would have been happy with their bowling performances against RCB, where all the other bowlers went for at least 10 an over. Improvement is required in that facet of the game.
Chennai Super Kings XI: 1. Shane Watson, 2. Ambati Rayudu, 3. Suresh Raina, 4. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 5. Sam Billings, 6. Ravindra Jadeja, 7. Dwayne Bravo, 8. Harbhajan Singh, 9. Deepak Chahar, 10. Shardul Thakur, 11. Imran Tahir
As mentioned in other MI previews, I genuinely feel MI aren’t too far away from clicking. Their team suggests they should – their experienced players need to certainly stand up.
Mumbai Indians XI: 1. Suryakumar Yadav, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Ishan Kishan (wk), 4. Rohit Sharma (c), 5. Krunal Pandya, 6. Kieron Pollard, 7. Hardik Pandya, 8. Mitchell McClenaghan, 9. Mayank Markande, 10. Jasprit Bumrah, 11. Mustafizur Rahman

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 23, CSK 11, MI 12. In the previous meeting this season, CSK pulled off a miracle win thanks to Dwayne Bravo’s amazing 68 off 30 balls.
  • Onus is on MI’s top order to perform in this game. If you remove their 102-run opening stand v DD, MI’s opening partnerships have contributed just 31 runs in the remaining five games (7, 11, 0, 1 and 12).
  • Write MS Dhoni off at your own peril. In what will be his 150th IPL match as captain, MS Dhoni has scored 209 runs in IPL 2018 at an average of 69.67 and SR of 165.87. 
  • Ambati Rayudu currently leads the IPL 2018 run scoring charts with 283.
  • Mumbai Indians have mirrored the start to their winning 2015 campaign (1 win, 5 losses).

Prediction

Looking at the standings and form of the two teams, it seems a simple game to predict, but it doesn’t work that way. I have a feeling this will be the game MI finally click, and they will get a win vs. a strong CSK side. Controversial, but I think their top order will fire, and get their second win of the season.

IPL Match 26 Preview: Delhi Daredevils v Kolkata Knight Riders

Charbel Coorey
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New captain, new results?

That is what Delhi Daredevils will be hoping for, after Gautam Gambhir shocked quite a few of us, deciding to resign from the captaincy after a slow start (literally) to IPL 2018. You would have been a very brave person to predict both MI and DD would be stuck at the bottom with just a win each at this stage, but that’s where DD find themselves. After restricting KXIP to a low total in their first home game of the season a few night back, their batting failed, suffering a heartbreaking final over loss.

It has felt like an age since Kolkata Knight Riders played their last match, which was against KXIP six days ago. After a last start defeat, KKR sit a little precariously in fourth place, four points behind the top three, and equal with fifth place RR. Six days is a long time in the IPL world, where time moves by so quickly, and KKR face an important game here. Can they find their groove straight away?

Key to a Delhi Daredevils win
In the other meeting vs KKR earlier this season, DD got absolutely everything wrong. They conceded 200, and lasted just 14.2 overs with the bat, responding with 129. Will Kolta and new leadership rejuvenate a team desperate for a win?
The big key in this game for DD is to challenge KKR’s top order more than they did at Eden Gardens on April 16th. The platform was set for Andre Russell to launch, where he nailed 41 off just 12 balls to flatten DD, after great work from Nitish Rana and co. at the top. 
The addition of Liam Plunkett in the last game was huge plus for DD, where they would have taken plenty of positives in keeping a strong KXIP side to 143. Can they repeat the same effort against KKR, in conjunction with a better batting performance?

Key to a Kolkata Knight Riders win

KKR’s batting continues to impress, and will be encouraged by Chris Lynn hitting form against KXIP. However, nearly a week has passed, so KKR maintaining the form with the bat is important.
However, can KKR’s spinners choke DD’s struggling line up in Kolta? If they can repeat what they did in their previous meeting against DD, they certainly have enough runs in them to beat their opponents tonight. The likes of Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav will be key, after a tough outing against KXIP last time out.

Predicted teams

Does Gautam Gambhir make the DD side now that he’s given up the captaincy? Also, DD will be hoping Jason Roy and Chris Morris are fit after missing the KXIP game through injury. With a side strain and back injury respectively for those two, it’s hard to see even one of them being fit enough.
Delhi Daredevils XI: 1. Prithvi Shaw/Gautam Gambhir, 2. Colin Munro, 3. Glenn Maxwell, 4. Shreyas Iyer (c), 5. Rishabh Pant (wk), 6. Vijay Shankar, 7. Rahul Tewatia, 8. Liam Plunkett, 9. Amit Mishra, 10. Avesh Khan, 11. Trent Boult 
KKR look pretty settled, and should go with their usual set up.
Kolkata Knight Riders XI: 1. Chris Lynn, 2. Sunil Narine, 3. Robin Uthappa, 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6. Andre Russell, 7. Shubman Gill, 8. Tom Curran, 9. Piyush Chawla, 10. Shivam Mavi, 11. Kuldeep Yadav

Check out this popular article from January – Test cricket discussion!
Stats and Facts:


  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 20, DD 7, KKR 13
  • Shreyas Iyer will become the second youngest captain in for DD in IPL (23 years and 142 days). 
  • Gautam Gambhir had been captain in every single one of his IPL games since May 2009.
  • Colin Munro (142.5), Rishabh Pant (157.5) and Glenn Maxwell (151.4) all boast good strike rates against spin. With KKR bowling the most overs (19.1) of spin in powerplay overs, it could be worth opening with two of these three, potentially.
  • Last time these two sides met: Andre Russell hit 41 off just 12 balls.

Prediction:

Can the change in leadership result in a win for DD? I believe they have a lot to offer, and can go one better than their previous game at home (vs. KXIP). Their batting is due to fire, and this is the game they can win. 
DD to get the job done.

IPL 25th Match Preview: Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kings XI Punjab

Charbel Coorey
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Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kings XI Punjab take two. Will the bowlers have a little more joy this time?

Just like you can never rule out CSK in this tournament, the same applies to Sunrisers Hyderabad, but opposite reasons. Surely, not many would have expected them to defend 118 v MI, but they did, and they’ve reminded us all of how handy their bowling attack is. They have also reminded us they can’t be taken lightly as a possible contender for this year’s title. Yes, their batting needs to improve, but if their bowling is on song, they are hard to beat.

For Kings XI Punjab, their games have often been in sharp contrast to SRH, winning most games thanks to their batting prowess. However, like SRH, they too defended a relatively low total against DD, which was a result that led to two-time IPL winning skipper Gautam Gambhir to step down as captain. A result like that just increases the belief among the KXIP faithful, where they can still come away with the win when the batting doesn’t quite click.

An interesting game awaits between two teams who could very well face off at the business end of the tournament.

Key to a Sunrisers Hyderabad win

KXIP handed SRH their first loss of the season exactly a week ago, and it came about from taking apart SRH’s much-heralded attack. Many eyes will be on Rashid Khan, who stormed into form again 
after going for 104 in the combined two games before SRH’s amazing win at the Wankhede. This included four overs for 55 against KXIP, where Chris Gayle was particularly harsh on him. Can he grab some revenge?
How the bowling attack performs will be key. They showed at the Wankhede that even without Bhuvneshwar Kumar, they can deliver the goods, but KXIP is a different beast at the moment. With Kumar in doubt again, another collaborative bowling effort like the one we saw at the Wankhede will be key, where all six bowlers took at least one wicket. 

Key to a Kings XI Punjab win

Take down SRH’s attack.
If KXIP win the toss, you could very well see Ashwin opting to bat first again against SRH. SRH’s batting is rightly considered their weaker point, so if KXIP can get in the runs, they’ll be in a good position. Even if Chris Gayle doesn’t recover in time for this one, the likes of KL Rahul, Aaron Finch, Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair and David Miller are all very dangerous players.
I’m also really loving the balance of KXIP’s side. They would be really confident of restricting SRH’s batsmen after their amazing effort defending 143 in Delhi. One massive question though is Yuvraj, who continues to struggle. Does he make way in this game?

Predicted teams

Expect SRH to go in with the same team they had at the Wankhede, unless Bhuvneshwar Kumar is considered fit. Eyes will be on Shikhar Dhawan who needs to get back in the runs after injury, and so too Manish Pandey who continues to promise plenty but deliver little. Alex Hales will continue to wait his turn.
Sunrisers Hyderabad XI: 1. Shikhar Dhawan, 2. Kane Williamson (c), 3. Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 4. Manish Pandey, 5. Yusuf Pathan, 6. Deepak Hooda, 7. Mohammad Nabi, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Sandeep Sharma, 10. Siddarth Kaul, 11. Basil Thampi
I think KXIP will drop Yuvraj Singh for perhaps Manoj Tiwary. Also, if Chris Gayle is fit, expect Aaron Finch, who hasn’t totally fired yet, to possibly make way. Looking forward to seeing how the bowling attack goes in this game, with the likes of Andrew Tye and Mujeeb ur Rahman doing really well at the moment.
Kings XI Punjab XI: 1. Chris Gayle, 2. KL Rahul (wk), 3. Mayank Agarwal, 4. Karun Nair, 5. David Miller, 6. Manoj Tiwary, 7. Ravi Ashwin (c), 8. Andrew Tye, 9. Barinder Sran, 10. Ankit Rajpoot, 11. Mujeeb ur Rahman
Check out this popular article from January – Test cricket discussion!

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 11, SRH 8, KXIP 3. In the previous meeting in IPL 2018, KXIP scored 193 and won resoundingly.
  • KXIP score at 10.30 in the powerplay overs in IPL 2018. No other team has a run rate of 10. However, SRH have the best economy rate in the powerplay (6.91), so an interesting battle awaits.
  • Leave Sandeep Sharma (if picked) for Chris Gayle? He has dismissed Gayle four times in all T20s, conceding just 55 runs in 47 balls.
  • Yuvraj has scored 50 runs at an average of 12.50, with a SR of just 89.29 in IPL 2018.
  • If KXIP win, it’ll be their fifth straight win.
  • The previous meeting between these two sides a week ago was the only time a captain has won the toss and batted in IPL 2018.

Prediction:

This promises to be a great game, but if KXIP’s batting clicks, I can see no way back for SRH. With the firepower available to them, I will go with KXIP for the win.

IPL 24th Match Preview: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Chennai Super Kings

Charbel Coorey
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0

IPL 2018 is rolling on, offering up plenty of unpredictability and excitement. Room for error is shrinking by the day, and a big game awaits both Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings, for different reasons.

Royal Challengers Bangalore sit precariously close to the bottom, and are desperate to make a mark in IPL cricket. They continue to rely on Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers to score vital runs, which is pretty much a given looking at their XI, but something they must improve is their death bowling. As has been the case on so many occasions over the last decade, RCB gave their opposition a sense of momentum heading into the innings break. Against DD, they conceded 7.31 an over in the first 16. In the last four, this ballooned to 14.25 an over. It begs the question of “when will they learn?” but they have no choice against a CSK side that is the best in the death overs (15-20) out of any team, scoring at 12.12 an over. Against DD, AB played an absolute blinder. Against CSK, they can’t afford to rely on such a freak of nature to get it spot on again.

For Chennai Super Kings, they have the chance to go top of the IPL table. Like RCB (who strike at 11.24 an over), their death batting is strong, but the key difference is they have a number of different players who can step up when required. From Dwayne Bravo, Sam Billings, MS Dhoni to Shane Watson and Ambati Rayudu, they have a line up that will keep a struggling RCB attack on notice. However, CSK aren’t the finished product yet. Like RCB, they struggle with the ball at the death, conceding 10.89 an over, second worse behind their opponents tonight.

So, an interesting game awaits. Both sides are strong with the bat at the death, but not so with the ball. Could we see a 200 vs. 200 game at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium?

Key to a Royal Challengers Bangalore win

RCB can score 200 in this game and still lose. No question about it. Of course, a key to victory is how Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers can perform, but the bowlers have a crucial role to play, to ensure that what Kohli and de Villiers contribute isn’t as critical.
What I mean by this is that if RCB’s bowlers don’t aim up, Kohli and de Villiers will be under even more pressure. Interestingly, after the initial onslaught against KKR in their season opener, RCB haven’t fared too badly in the powerplay overs of IPL 2018. Since their unsuccessful visit to Eden Gardens, RCB have conceded 7.92 per over, with 8 wickets taken between overs 1-6 of their games. Against DD, they were superb, conceding 28/2 in the powerplay, but then went on to concede 174/5.
Against CSK, RCB need a full 20-over bowling performance. It’s not a championship quality to compete for half or three-quarters of an innings, so the time to get it right is now. Umesh Yadav and Chris Woakes in particular have been in good in patches, but they need to step up at the death. 

Key to a Chennai Super Kings win

Can they pile on the pressure against Virat and AB?
If they bat first, CSK will be eyeing out a big score against an RCB attack that continues to prove unreliable, and then target quick RCB top order wickets with the ball. If they bowl first, CSK will be looking for a similar start they had against SRH, where they had them on the ropes thanks mainly to Deepak Chahar’s amazing spell. 
Importantly, CSK need to guard against an attitude of “we’ll chase anything RCB post.” They can’t afford to complacent in this game, and like RCB, they need to bowl better at the death. Their incredible close finishes so far in IPL 2018 should serve as a good reminder that you need to remained focused till the end.

Predicted teams

RCB’s opening partnerships have an average length of 10 balls. Not even two overs. So, in addition to their death bowling, their opening combination is a cause for concern. However, expect them to stick with Manan Vohra at the top with Quinton de Kock. Also, it will be interesting to see whether they stick with Corey Anderson for the all-rounder spot.
Royal Challengers Bangalore XI: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Manan Vohra, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. AB de Villiers, 5. Mandeep Singh, 6. Corey Anderson, 7. Washington Sundar, 8. Chris Woakes, 9. Umesh Yadav, 10. Mohammed Siraj, 11.Yuzvendra Chahal
CSK made a painfully slow start against SRH, scoring just 41 in their first nine overs. However, led by Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina, CSK recovered to post 182. Expect them to stick with the same line up, but with more expected from the top order in the powerplay overs against an RCB team that has fared OK in this period.
Chennai Super Kings XI: 1. Shane Watson, 2. Faf du Plessis, 3. Suresh Raina, 4. Ambati Rayudu, 5. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 6. Sam Billings, 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Dwayne Bravo, 9. Harbhajan Singh, 10. Deepak Chahar, 11. Shardul Thakur

Stats and Facts:

  • Head-to-Head: Matches: 20, RCB 7, CSK 12, No result: 1
  • RCB and CSK are the top two sides for batting run rates in the last five overs. However, they are also the two worst sides for bowling run rates in this period.
  • Virat Kohli has 706 runs v CSK, the most against any team. He also needs just 18 runs to reach 2,000 IPL runs at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
  • Yuzvendra Chahal to be kept for Suresh Raina? Raina has been dismissed by Chahal four times in eight matches.
  • MS Dhoni loves Bangalore. He averages in excess of 60 there, with a strike rate of 191.86.

Prediction:

After what we saw in Mumbai last night, anything is possible.
However, CSK look more settled, and look more likely to deliver a polished performance against an RCB side that remains inconsistent. CSK to win in a close battle.
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