CSK vs RR: Moeen Ali’s likely return will boost the spin-heavy Chennai side as it prepares to host a Rajasthan side which has relied on its top-three of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will aim to maintain its winning band when it hosts Rajasthan Royals (RR) in an IPL 2023 match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium then on Wednesday.
M.S Dhoni can go to smile ahead of his 200th IPL match as CSK captain after the seven- gate obliteration of Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium last Saturday, amid fitness lapses to all- rounders Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali.
Deepak Chahar’s hamstring surrendered during the MI clash, but left- arm baits Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner birled with five lattices between them. Under- fire attachment Tushar Deshpande made amends, and Ajinkya Rahane smashed a sublime fifty on his CSK debut.
While Chahar is anticipated to face a lengthy break, Jadeja verified on Tuesday that Stokes will return in “ four- five days ”. Accordingly, Dhoni could rope in an fresh incentive athome.However, Sri Lankan off- incentive Maheesh Theekshana- the leading T20 incentive( 36 lattices) in the PowerPlay since 2021- can adroitly replace Chahar, If available. Moeen, who has recovered from a stomach bug, is likely to start after bagging four lattices in the former match in Chennai.
Meanwhile, CSK’s dominant Chepauk record will witness its first stern test of the season as the Royals hop in after thrashing Delhi centrals by 57 runs. MI is the only visiting platoon to have trumped CSK( thrice) in the last 20 games at the venue.
Royals left- armer Trent Boult is the kryptonite to CSK nature Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has frequently faced an erratic middle- order with his blazing thresholds. Boult has dismissed Gaikwad thrice in four meetings, comprising7.33; his pacy outswing could also test Gaikwad’s mate Devon Conway beforehand on. The left- handed Kiwi has been troubled with the moving ball, exploited dashingly in CSK’s season nature by Gujarat elephants ’ Mohammad Shami and MI’s Jason Behrendorff in the last game.
Likewise, original expert Ravichandran Ashwin and an in- form Yuzvendra Chahal will henpeck CSK in the middle- overs.
While inconsistencies loiter in the fur, the Royals ’ top order can hang the spin-heavy Super lords. Captain Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal form the stylish IPL top- three against spin since 2020, with a combined strike rate of151.11.
Buttler remains the main trouble and CSK doesn’t retain proven ordnance to take him down. The fiery nature’s IPL strike- rate shoots over 145 for left- arm spin and off- spin. Leg- spin has frequently kept Buttler quiet- 11 discharges at an normal of 26.81.
The same holds for Samson against wrist- baits the googly being his nemesis over the last many seasons. On Saturday, DC wrist- incentive Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Samson for a four- ball duck, his only delivery to the Kerala batter being a wrong’un that convinced a mistimed slog to the long- on fielder. CSK’s only option is leg- incentive Prashant Solanki, who had a long bowling session in the nets on Monday. Solanki’s last IPL game for CSK was against the Royals in 2022, when he registered numbers of2/20.
Barring the ODI between India and Australia at Chepauk in March, recent white- ball games at the venue have witnessed perceptible brio, with the ball sinking onto the club. CSK’s 12- run palm against Lucknow Super titans last week bore a match total of 422 runs- a record high in Chennai in 13 times.
Jadeja expects the face to play on analogous lines. “ It wasn’t like a typical Chennai gate where the ball was keeping low and turning square. I ’m hoping that this will also play the same, but it might be a little bit on the slower side, ” he remarked.
The spin riches of both sides could hence come to the fore to make the contest commodity further than two sessions of slog- hitting. Know More Latest IPL News…
