Clash of the titans: Key battles when CSK take on KKR

As the Chepauk Stadium stretches its arms in welcome to the Yellow Submarine after two years, the Kolkata Knight Riders are also in full mood to play party poopers. Both CSK and KKR got off to strong starts in the opening matches of their campaign and now will square off against each other in a mouth-watering clash at Chennai.

We lookat three key battles which will be fascinating to watch in the game and might just end up deciding which way the game swings:

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#3 Raina's Aggression vs Narine's Guile

This will be one battle to savour. While Narine has come in the news for his batting exploits, his deliveries are still not the easiest ones to pick up. As he showed with McCullum's wicket his tendency to strike crucial blows is invaluable for the Knight Riders.

On the other end, Chepauk and spin is the combo which Suresh Raina has come to relish. The leftie boasts of a tremendous record at the stadium and when on top of his game, can take the game away in the blink of an eye.

Wll he be able to smash Narine out of the park or will the West Indian reign supreme with his deception and control?

#2 Battle of the finishers: Dwayne Bravo vs Andre Russell

Bravo can be the Gamechanger with both ball and bat

Down the order, both CSK and KKR are blessed with some Caribbean firepower. In Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell, they have stellar all rounders who can bat and bowl both during the death overs and guide their teams to the finish line.

What will be fascinating to see is the contest between the two, when one faces up against the other, a possibility during both innings. Bravo showed his worth with a clinical finish in the first game against Mumbai Indians.

Russell will be eager to spoil the party for his Caribbean mate. The record for one favours Russell who has scored 175 runs against Dwayne Bravo off 88 balls only in T-20 matches.

#1 KKR Openers vs MS Dhoni

Power Duo- Dhoni will have to control the 2 pinch hitters to give CSK a chance

Both Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine have shown in the past that even if one of them is allowed to flourish in the opening overs, the job is half done for the Knight Riders. The prospect of both of them firing on all cylinders is a frightening one for Chennai Super Kings.

While the Chennai bowlers will square against the two, the real battle will be between the KKR openers and MS Dhoni. Dhoni will have to pull a trick or two to dismiss both Lynn and Narine early.

Narine's preference for spin is quite evident as was visible in the hammering he handed Washington Sundar and Chahal against RCB. However, he struggles against pace when he opens the innings. While opening the innings during a T20 game, Narine averages 15.93 against pace and 36 against spin- something to moot for Dhoni who might consider unleashing either Mark Wood or Lungi Ngidi on him, whoever starts for Chennai.

On the other hand, Lynn enjoys the ball coming on to the bat and it is the spinners who might stifle him better. MSD cannot allow any one of the two pinch hitters to walk away with the game. It will surely be a test of his wits.