Chennai Super Kings, against all odds, triumphed against the defending champions Mumbai Indians in the opening match of the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL) on September 19. Now, they will face other formidable opponents at the Rajasthan Royals. The two teams meet at Sharjah’s cricket stadium on Tuesday. This will be the first time fans will be able to see the Rajasthan Royals in action at IPL 2020, but some big names will be missing, giving the initiative to MS Dhoni’s CSK. Rajasthan Royals captain Steve Smith will be without the services of England duo Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes, while CSK will be without Dwayne Bravo.
RAJASTHAN ROYALS
Steve Smith: The Australian star, who missed the one-day series against England due to a concussion, appears to have recovered and is expected to lead the Rajasthan Royals in their 2020 IPL opener. Smith has had a consistent performance in the IPL But it has never set the stage lit
He has scored a total of 2,022 runs in 81 games with an average of 37.44. Last season, Smith played 12 games scoring 319 runs with a 39.87 average. This year, the Australian hopes to improve on that tally and lead the Rajasthan Royals to their second IPL title.
Sanju Samson: In his day, the graceful right-hander can be as destructive as any hitter on the planet, but the fickle Sanju Samson needs to bring consistency to his game. The talent is undeniable, making it a hot property at IPL, but Rajasthan needs you to come to the party more often.
The young man from Kerala has been on the fringes of the Indian team, and with the departure of MS Dhoni, the time is right for Samson to really reclaim and make that wicketkeeper-batsman position his own and what a bigger stage than the IPL to get the advantage of all attention.
Jofra Archer: The raw pace of the England star has been too intense for many big names and Jofra Archer arrives in the UAE after some impressive performances for his national team. Archer, however, is in competition for her place with Andrew Tye and Tom Curran also in the mix and will need to start racing to continually be part of the team.
Last year, England’s pacer played 11 games taking 11 wickets at an economy rate of 6.76. Archer will look to improve that account this season.
SUPER KINGS OF CHENNAI
MS Dhoni: The former India captain landed another heist in the 2020 IPL opener by degrading himself and promoting Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja when most thought the stage was set for the CSK patron. The decision paid huge dividends and both players landed crucial cameos in the chase.
While fans would not have been happy to see Dhoni face just two balls, the victory would have mattered more to CSK and their supporters. Dhoni was solid behind the stumps, but it is still unknown in what form he meets the bat.
Ambati Rayudu: The diminutive right-hander played a starring role for CSK in the victory over the Mumbai Indians. He started slow with CSK rebuilding after two opening losses, but pushed the limits at will as the innings progressed. In the absence of Suresh Raina, Rayudu’s responsibility is more than ever.
CSK will need Rayudu to continue to shine if they want to go far in the tournament.
Promoted
Ravindra Jadeja: The Indian off-roader looked good with both bat and ball in CSK’s opening game. He hit positively, scoring 10 of five balls, but he will have to make a bigger contribution more consistently.
Jadeja did a lot with the ball, but took two crucial lands, albeit thanks to Faf du Plessis’ brilliance in the outfield. Jadeja hopes to improve his performances against the Rajasthan Royals, a team he has played for in the past.
Topics mentioned in this article
.
