As the race for play-offs spots gathers momentum, two-time champion Chennai Super Kings will eye a victory against Rajasthan Royals in the Pepsi-IPL-7 league match at the JSCA Stadium here on Tuesday.
With both teams peaking as the business end of the tournament looms, a cracker of a contest can be expected.
The manner of CSK’s victory over Mumbai Indians in an away game not only helped it regain its composure after the hiding it got against Kings XI Punjab at Cuttack, but brought the team closer to the next phase.
The 10th-round match will not be an easy one for Super Kings, not after the way Rajasthan Royals overcame Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final four overs, to turn what looked like imminent defeat into victory.
Based on that performance alone, Royals clearly cannot be taken lightly.
The first meeting between the two ended in a seven-run victory for the Chennai side, and Royals will be keen to turn that around on the return leg and log two points.
Super Kings, unbeaten in four earlier encounters at this venue, will start favourites owing to their depth in batting and bowling.
Led by an experienced captain in M.S. Dhoni, CSK is too good a side to let go this opportunity to seal a knockout spot. A tally of 16 points with two home and two away games in hand will have the team eyeing a top-two finish.
CSK’s campaign will revolve around the batting of Dwayne Smith who has 396 runs. His opening partner Brendon McCullum, with 327 runs from nine games, has proved the perfect foil as the two have emerged the most successful opening pair this season.
Suresh Raina, Dhoni and Faf de Plessis complete the line-up which the team counts on to deliver the runs.
Ajinkya Rahane — 249 from nine games — is the highest run-getter for Royals, followed by Karun Nair (194, six matches). As an opener, Karun has given Royals solidity at the top, which has helped the team chase down some stiff targets.
Sanju Vishwanadh, Shane Watson and Steven Smith have not been spectacular but have risen to the occasion when called for.
Mohit Sharma (15 wickets), Ravindra Jadeja (11) and R. Ashwin (10) are Super Kings’ main wicket-takers, and will continue to be so.
Pravin Tambe (14), Rajat Bhatia (9), Kane Richardson (9) and James Faulkner (8) will seek to keep the power-packed Super Kings batting line-up from running riot.
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