IPL 2018: Match 43, RR vs CSK: Royals have their task cut out against CSK at home

CSK is second in the points table with 14 points.

Key game for Rajasthan at home. (IANS)

Rajasthan Royals have it all to do against Chennai Super Kings when they face off against them at home. Chennai is on 14 points and need two more points to confirm their place in the playoffs. 

CSK looks balanced and set to win the matches. MS Dhoni has got his strategy in place and has his key players around him to do the job. Suresh Raina will be key for CSK in tonight's game as the side with players above 30 are coming off a 5-day break. MS Dhoni knows the importance of these kind of tense matches and thus will be mindful of the changes if he needs to make any. Death bowling has seemed a problem for CSK and coming into this match, one expects CSK to sort out their bowling line up before the game starts. 

Rajasthan on the other hand, are in dire straits and need to win all their matches if they are to make it to the playoffs. Shane Watson tormented their bowling line up the last time both these teams played against each other. Tonight they not only need to stop Watson but also the likes of MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina as well. Ambati Rayudu as well has been key to CSK's season success and tonight the RR bowlers will have their task cut out against their opposition. 

Buttler's form with the bat will come as a respite for Rajasthan. Samson also will be key in the middle order. Rahane needs to score tonight for the Royals and it will be an interesting choice between Klaasen and D'Arcy Short for tonight's game. Bowling wise Unadkat is yet to prove his price tag for Rajasthan and no better time than tonight to prove it. Jofra Archer too will be key with the ball as Rajasthan have their backs against the wall in this game. 

Rajasthan would dearly love Ben Stokes to come to the party tonight and score big and help them win the most important match keeping in mind the context and the scenario. 

The playing condition at the Sawai Man Singh stadium will be hot and humid and the pitch is expected to help the spinners. As per reports, the captains from both teams are apprehensive about how the pitch might play tonight. 

Toss

Chennai Super Kings have won the toss and have opted to bat

Playing XI 

Chennai Super Kings: Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Sam Billings, MS Dhoni(w/c), Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Karn Sharma, David Willey, Harbhajan Singh, Shardul Thakur

Rajasthan Royals : Ajinkya Rahane(c), Jos Buttler(w), Prashant Chopra, Sanju Samson, Ben Stokes, Stuart Binny, Krishnappa Gowtham, Jofra Archer, Ankit Sharma, Jaydev Unadkat, Ish Sodhi

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 11 May, 2018

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