IPL 2020
CSK is likely to be confident that its failed core will do well © BCCI
Struggling to find half decent starts with the bat, Chennai Super Kings ideally would not have liked this match early on against the best side of bowling in the powerplays at IPL 2020, the Kings XI Punjab. And yet, here they are, playing their third straight game in Dubai on Sunday, desperately looking for a win to snap their three-game losing streak since opening night. CSK has the lowest average, the second lowest execution rate, and has lost the most land within the top six in this power play, just what KXIP might have wanted to change its campaign.
Not that everything is perfect in the opposition field, which has lost the same amount in its four games so far. For a team that has between the top earners (KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal) and the one with the most walks (Mohammed Shami), I would expect better from Punjab than just the two points. But, despite leading the way in the first 15 overs of its bowling innings, KXIP has consistently lost the plot in the last five, which in turn has had a ripple effect on its hitting, resulting in three losses. embarrassing.
The solution? CSK has refrained from tampering with the core on its side, as evident in its auction strategy to add more spinners despite concerns at its hitting field last edition. So they will keep faith in their match winners, as head coach Stephen Fleming openly admitted, because it is too early to read it and search for answers within. CSK looks better balanced now with the return of Dwayne Bravo and Ambati Rayudu, but it’s the lack of returns from Shane Watson and Kedar Jadhav that is sinking them. It probably wouldn’t hurt to target Rayudu as a starter for a game or two, and allow Watson to find his rhythm without the pressure to score quickly.
From the outside, after their latest loss to the Mumbai Indians, it might seem like KXIP is overly reliant on their starting partner in the form of Mayank and patron Rahul for racing. But your middle order is really well stocked with proven revolutionaries to meet challenging goals. It is the bowling alley of death that needs to stop landing in those tough chases. Punjab’s economy’s above death rate of 16.91 is alarmingly high, and the administration has some tough decisions to make. Or maybe the easiest: bring in your death specialist at the expense of an SUV and keep the faith.
When:October 4, Sunday at 7:30 PM IST
Where:Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
What to expect: SRH’s win in CSK’s last outing here was just another instance of team hitting first and winning the game at IPL 2020, though it was David Warner who opted to put runs on the board that match. The chase, however, has been preferred by the two captains who will be in the draw tomorrow. Expect the trend to continue, in anticipation of dew, even when the initial trend suggests otherwise.
Team news
Kings XI Punjab:After a third instance in which the opposition celebrated with its death bowling alley, the KXIP patron admitted that an additional bowling option would be good. A death specialist is probably what they need the most. KXIP would probably give his middle order another chance and bring Chris Jordan back with Jimmy Neesham breaking through.
Probable XI:KL Rahul (every week), Mayank Agarwal, Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, Chris Jordan, M Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Sheldon Cottrell, Mohammed Shami
Super Kings of Chennai:Although one could argue for the inclusion of Imran Tahir to add an additional edge to his bowling alley, that leaves CSK considerably short on hitting, and its weak link. CSK has openly backed the underperforming duo of Watson and Jadhav to do well. Given the broad support that CSK staff enjoy, it is unlikely that there will be any changes to his XI game since the last game as he is as close to a balanced XI as possible. Dhoni puffing and puffing was not a pleasant sight for his dugout, but the captain is expected to have recovered from exhaustion in the game in which he first held for 20 overs and then returned to bat six overs later.
Probable XI:Faf du Plessis, Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (c / wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Piyush Chawla
Did you know
– CSK has a 12-9 head-to-head advantage over KXIP.
– MS Dhoni loves to hit KXIP, having scored 595 runs in 21 innings with a strike rate of nearly 156, and crossing fifty-five times.
What do they say?
“Another bowling option would be good – an all-terrain option that can hit and throw well. He’ll be sitting with the coaches to decide if we want to play extra bowling.” – KXIP KL Rahul Pattern
“Both Watson and Jadhav are looking for substantial contributions. Shane can light the fuse at any stage and Kedhar the same. It’s just our fourth game so it’s pretty early in our form cycle, but there’s no question there’s pressure and it will. They will make you feel it more than I’m talking about. ” – CSK head coach Stephen Fleming
© Cricbuzz
