The second match on the first double-header Sunday in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 will be played between the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. In the season so far, nothing has gone according to plan for CSK as they have lost three consecutive games after defeating Mumbai Indians (MI) in the tournament opener as a result they are standing at the bottom of the IPL points table.
Apart from Ambati Rayudu and Faf du Plessis, none of the CSK batsmen have managed to fire, with Shane Watson’s form being a huge matter of concern. As for the bowling unit, the spinners have failed to get wickets on regular intervals in the middle overs.
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On the other hand, KXIP seems to be having a balanced unit in place, with KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal being the top run-scorers in the tournament. However, they will need the likes of Nicholas Pooran and Glenn Maxwell to come up with the goods in the back end of the innings. Although, KXIP wouldn’t be too happy with their head-to-head record, which reads 13-9 in CSK’s favor. But their stunning win in last year’s clash in Mohali should give them much-needed confidence against MS Dhoni and his men.
As the two sides prepare for a thrilling encounter, here’s a look at three key player battles to keep an eye on.
#1. KL Rahul vs Deepak Chahar
One of the best limited-overs batsmen, KL Rahul will be facing one of the finest modern-day pacers, Deepak Chahar and it promises a lot on paper. The KXIP skipper is the second-highest run-scorer for the team in the tournament so far, so he would be keen to continue the momentum. Rahul has an excellent IPL record and on the other hand, Chahar has always been a wicket-taker for CSK and he will be under pressure to prove his worth.
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Chahar will be playing the role of a wicket-taker. He last played the IPL in 2019 for CSK, during which he picked up 22 scalps in 17 games at a strike rate of 17.59. He will be looking forward to improving the numbers this season for sure.
#2. Faf du Plessis vs Mohammed Shami
This is a battle of unconventional cricketers, if we may call it so. The veteran cricketer, Faf du Pless is the highest run-scorer in the ongoing season as he has scored for DC in the last game as he scored 195 runs in three games. He would be expected to continue his form against KXIP as well.
Du Plessis’ battle with Mohammed Shami promises to be an enthralling one. Shami has the ability to bowl yorkers at will which will help him disturbing the rhythm of the youngster. The KXIP pacer is one of the best death bowlers in the business, and Faf will have to bat at his ferocious best to unsettle the veteran seamer.
#3. Mayank Agarwal vs Piyush Chawla
The KXIP opener, Mayank Agarwal played a crucial role in KXIP’s batting outfit last year. His stunning numbers in this season as he has scored 246 runs at a strike rate of 166.21. He would look to carry on from where he left off last year. While he was equally dangerous against pace and spin last year, his battle against slow bowlers on UAE surfaces would be interesting to watch.
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The pitches at venues in the Middle-East make shot-making slightly more difficult, which is why someone like Piyush Chawala might trouble the big-hitting opener. Mayank has the ability to keep things tight and get through his overs quickly. If he can keep the southpaw quiet, it might produce a false shot as the attacking batsman might look to break open.
