CRICKET
IPL: Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals Predictions
Match 68 between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals will see two teams competing for altogether opposite spots on the table.
Chennai is all but out of the tournament and will be looking to avoid the last position at the table by winning its last game of this year’s IPL whereas Rajasthan need a must win here to finish in the top 2.
If they lose this match, it will be curtains for them in this season.
Former champions Chennai could not manage to defend the title this time around and finishing in the last 2 spots on the table will surely lead to introspection in the team camp.
On the other hand, Rajasthan started quite brilliantly and were unstoppable till the mid-season.
Royals team analysis
Royals rode high on Jos Butler’s form who scored tons of runs this year.
And just as Butler’s form dried up a bit, Rajasthan came on back foot as well and since then, it has not been easy for them despite having some early wins in the tournament.
A win in their last match will push them ahead of Lucknow because of their better run rate but if Chennai spoils the fun for Rajasthan in their last outing, Royals will probably need a lot of luck then.
Unless Rajasthan suffer a heavy defeat, they may still survive and make the play-offs.
Their batting has been sublime throughout the season.
Shimron Hetmyer will be returning to the side after missing 2 games due to the birth of his child.
In addition to that, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Padikkal’s return to form will be a morale booster.
Not to forget the heroic roles of Butler and Sanju Samson who have the ability to take away the game on their own.
Hetmyer has built his reputation in the later part of innings by hitting a 6 after every 7 balls.
He has hit 19 sixes in the last 5 overs of the game, a stat clearly showing his destructive outlook.
Royals would not worry much about their bowling with Yuzvendra Chahal holding the purple cap this year.
Chahal is 3 wickets away from breaking Imran Tahir’s record of 26 wickets, the most by any spinner in an IPL season.
Match details
Venue: Brabourne Stadium
Date: 20th May,2022
Time: 7:30 pm IST
Head to head past record:
Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals have played in 26 matches against each other.
Chennai lead the past record with 15 wins while Rajasthan has 11 wins.
Probable Playing 11 – Chennai Super Kings:
Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, N Jagadeesan, Shivam Dube, Mitchell Santner, MS Dhoni (capt, wk), Prashant Solanki, Simarjeet Singh, Mukesh Choudhary, Matheesha Pathirana
Probable Playing 11 – Rajasthan Royals:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler (wk), Sanju Samson (capt), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, R Ashwin, Jimmy Neesham/Obed McCoy, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna
Star bowler of the match:
Yuzvendra Chahal
Star batsman of the match:
Devdutt Padikkal
Who will win?
Will we see a Dhoni special in CSK’s last outing this year?
It would be a consolation win for the disgruntled CSK if they beat Rajasthan and spoil their chances for play-offs.
But Rajasthan has played better cricket than most in this season and they will surely look to up the ante in their last group game and reach the 2nd spot on the table.