Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals both the teams were banned after Indian Premier League 2015 season. Both the teams returned after two years, one won the league and other finished fourth on the points table. Both these teams have a rivalry right from the final of the first ever Indian Premier League. Rajasthan Royals went on to win the league but after that match, Chennai Super Kings have won 12 out of 16 matches against Rajasthan Royals. Chennai Super Kings have a dominant record against most of the teams in the Indian Premier League.
Death bowling is a concern for Chennai Super Kings. After Dwayne Bravo’s injury, this issue has come up in most of the matches. Bravo is a stand out player and he can deliver Yorkers right at the perfect time. This skill of his is unfortunately not present among any of the other Chennai Super King’s bowler. Chennai Super Kings have a good spin attack and that can come handy on a pitch like Sawai Mann Singh where this game will be played.
Another area of concern is the form of both Shane Watson and Ambati Rayadu. Watson played for Rajasthan Royals for 8 years and he knows this ground more than anyone else. With du Plessis being in a good touch Chennai Super Kings would be wanting Watson to give them a fiery start that can be capitalized by the middle and lower order batsmen. Rayudu has been out of form right from the start of the league. For a player of his caliber, only one game is enough to come back in form. Chennai Super Kings would want that one game to be today’s game.
Rajasthan Royals have a lot of concerns and that is the reason why they are placed at the 7th position of the points table. Their only win has come up against Royal Challengers Bangalore, a team which is giving away two points to every team as a freebie.
Apart from Jos Buttler no other batsman has shown signs of positive batting for Rajasthan Royals. Steven Smith did score a fifty in one game but that was too slow for a t-20 game. Ajinkya Rahane has opened up the innings for Rajasthan Royals but never gave them a start that can result into a high score. Rahul Tripathi who is a genuine opener is batting in the middle order and that is one issue which is coming up in every game.
Their bowling is also of below average and that is some serious issue. You can’t win a cricket match with such poor bowling skills.
Chennai Super Kings will look to extend their lead on the points table and with the form in which Rajasthan Royals is right now suggests that Chennai Super Kings will have another win over them.
MS Dhoni has won 99 matches for Chennai Super Kings as a captain and will look to make it a century today.
