In the 37th match of the Indian Match 37 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be locking horns with Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Monday. Despite having a powerful batting line-up, RR has failed to score runs on a consistent basis. Their previous outing in the IPL ended in a defeat against RCB despite skipper, Steve Smith scoring a brilliant half-century.
The form of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler will be a concerning factor for the Royals have been a cause of concern for the Royals as they have been heavily relying on Jofra Archer and Rahul Tewatia with ball and bat respectively. With just three wins to show for their efforts so far, the Royals need to win all their games in order to stand a chance to reach the playoffs. Like the Royals, CSK is also reeling at the bottom half of the table with three wins in nine games.
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MS Dhoni and his men have been sorely deserted this season so far, and with Bravo’s injury in the loss against DC, the CSK has a lot to ponder as they try to keep alive their slim hopes to win their fourth IPL trophy on Monday. In the earlier game, Sanju Samson and Steve Smith were seen plundering the CSK bowlers to all parts of the ground in Sharjah.
With their campaigns on the line, both teams would look to give their best at the business end of the competition. As the two sides prepare for a thrilling encounter, here’s a look at three key player battles to keep an eye on.
#1. Faf du Plessis vs Kartik Tyagi
One of the best limited-overs batsmen, Faf du Plessis will be facing Kartik Tyagi and it promises a lot on paper. The CSK opener was the highest run-scorer for the team in the game against CSK, so he would be keen to continue the momentum. Faf has an excellent IPL record and on the other hand, Karthik has emerged as a wicket-taker for RR and he will be under pressure to prove his worth.
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Tyagi will be playing the role of a wicket-taker. He is the second-highest wicket-taker for RR in the ongoing season as he has sclaped 5 wickets in 5 games at a strike rate of 22.8. He will be looking forward to improving the numbers this season for sure.
#2. Rahul Tewatia vs Shardul Thakur
The flamboyant all-rounder, Rahul Tewatia is one of the highest run-scorer for RR in the game against SRH as he had amassed 45 runs off just 28 balls and he has also taken six wickets this season. Tewatia’s battle with Shardul Thakur promises to be an enthralling one. The latter has a knack for taking crucial wickets which will help him disturbing the rhythm of RR. He has emerged as one of the best bowlers for CSK this season and Rahul will have to bat at his ferocious best to unsettle the fiery pacer.
#3. Shane Watson vs Jofra Archer
Shane Watson played a crucial role in CSK’s batting outfit last year. His stunning numbers in 2019 reveal the kind of impact he had on the tournament — 398 runs at a strike rate of 127.56. 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 fast 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 Jofra Archer might trouble the big-hitting opener. Watson 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.
