The 68th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 will see Rajasthan Royals (RR) taking on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Friday (May 20).
While the defending champions have been knocked out of the playoffs race, the Sanju Samson-led side is still in the reckoning for the final-four round.
It will be their last league match in this year’s IPL. CSK are coming into this game with a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of GT whereas RR had thrashed LSG by 24 runs in their last outing.
Ahead of the game, Team COC presents to you the Predicted playing XIs of Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings.
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal have done well for the Royals at the top this season and they should open the innings against CSK.
Skipper Sanju Samson is likely to hold the crucial No.3 position, followed Devdutt Padikkal at No. 4. RR’s batting line-up should be bolstered with the return of Shimron Hetmyer for the last league match.
Notably, Hetmyer has re-joined the Royals camp after missing the last two matches to attend the birth of his first child in Guyana. With the southpaw set to return, all-rounder Jimmy Neesham is expected to sit out of the playing XI while the flamboyant Riyan Parag will fill the No. 6 batting slot.
Coming to the bowling attack, Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal will play as premier spinners while Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, and Obed McCoy will take care of the pace department.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
The MS Dhoni-led side will look to end the season on a high, having lost 9 out of their 13 league games in the IPL 2022. Therefore, it is unlikely that CSK will tweak their team combination.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway will open the innings, followed by all-rounder Moeen Ali at No. 3. Youngster N Jagadeesan impressed one and all while batting at No. 4 against GT and he should retain the crucial spot.
Shivam Dube should come into bat at No. 5 while Dhoni will hold the No. 6 slot. The CSK skipper has looked in good touch with the bat in the ongoing IPL, scoring 206 runs from 12 innings at an average of 34.33 and a strike rate of 128.75.
The Super Kings went with a spin-heavy attack in the last game and they are unlikely to disrupt the composition, considering that fringe players need to be given confidence for the next season.
Maheesh Theekshana, Mitchell Santner and Prashant Solanki should form the spin attack while the impressive duo of Mukesh Choudhary and Simarjeet Singh will play as pacers.
Rajasthan Royals COC Predicted Playing XI:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Obed McCoy
Chennai Super Kings COC Predicted Playing XI:
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, N Jagadeesan, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Mitchell Santner, Prashant Solanki, Simarjeet Singh, Matheesha Pathirana, Mukesh Choudhary
