Match Preview
After suffering four consecutive defeats, Chennai Super Kings will be looking forward to step on field with some improvements. They are facing Royal Challengers Bangalore this time. Records might speak of CSK’s dominance but a new match is a new challenge.
Chennai Super Kings has struggled to keep up with bowling requirement. Also, the batting order is missing the fire power. Head coach Stephen Fleming has also admitted that four consecutive defeats have shaken the confidence of the defending champions. Four-time champions Chennai have not played the kind of cricket they are known for under Ravindra Jadeja.
Jadeja has so far failed to lead from the front. Senior players like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu and Dwayne Bravo will have to bear more responsibility in this crisis situation. CSK have scored more than 200 runs only once match so far but their batsmen could not run in the remaining three matches. They will now face RCB’s formidable bowling attack which includes spinners Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey and Mohammad Siraj.
Young Ruturaj Gaikwad is yet to play his nature game. A big inning is due on him. All-rounders Moeen Ali and Shivam Dubey are the only players who have been in touch. However, they have failed to produce a match winning innings.
Fleming admitted that the team is missing pacer Deepak Chahar, who has not played any match due to injury. “Availability of players is an issue and we have so far underperformed in all three departments – batting, bowling and fielding. We need reforms in all departments.
RCB on the other hand have done well in all departments so far and the team is full of confidence. Opener Anuj Rawat scored a half-century against Mumbai Indians while Virat Kohli also scored has been in good nick. Captain Faf du Plessis is capable of tearing apart any attack. All the three batsmen of RCB’s top order are in good form right now. Dinesh Karthik has been playing the role of ‘finisher’ for RCB and engineer-turned-cricketer Shahbaz Ahmed has also impressed with his performance so far. Except Bravo, no one else has been able to impress in Chennai’s bowlers.
Chennai Super Kings
Robin Uthappa, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja (c), Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni (wk), Dwayne Bravo, Chris Jordan, Maheesh Theekshana, Rajvardhan Hangargekar
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Anuj Rawat, Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik (wk), David Willey, Wanindu Hasaranga, Siddharth Kaul, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj