IPL 2018, CSK vs MI: 5 player battles to look forward to

According to the league table, this is a mismatch as table toppers Chennai Super Kings take on bottom-placed Mumbai Indians at Pune tonight. CSK are coming off a stupendous victory in their previous game while MI are desperate to get back to winning ways after their calamitous defeat in the last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The defending champions have won just 1 game so far in the tournament and if they are to get to the playoffs then it is high time they get back to winning ways.

Considering the number of epic games they have been involved in, tonight’s game in Pune promises to be another closely-fought contest. Both teams are filled with fine cricketers and their individual battles will ultimately decide the fate of the match. Here is a look at the 5 most interesting battles to look forward to tonight.

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#1 Ambati Rayudu v Mayank Markande

Ambati Rayudu is the highest run scorer in the CSK side with a total of 283 runs so far and his stroke-play has been responsible for many of the scorching starts that the team have gotten off to this year. He is averaging 47.16 with a brilliant strike rate of 158.98. In the last game, he decimated the Royal Challengers Bangalore attack with a scintillating 82 and in the game before that, his 79 against SRH proved to be a match-turning effort.

Rayudu was particularly severe on spin in his previous game and his battle against MI’s leg-spinner Mayank Markande is going to be an intense one. The spinner has been a revelation in the IPL so far and is currently MI’s highest wicket-taker with a total of 10 scalps. His economy rate of 7.15 is perhaps the most impressive.

In the previous game against CSK, he got 3-23 in 4 overs and among those was the wicket of Rayudu, trapped leg before. It is definitely a battle that could shape the CSK batting effort and perhaps Rayudu would want to get on top of the bowler who got him out last time the two teams met.

#4 Deepak Chahar v Evin Lewis

Evin Lewis

The young medium-pace bowler has been one of the steadiest operators in the Powerplays for CSK and in tonight’s game against MI, his opening spell will be pivotal if the Dhoni-led side are to restrict their opponents to a reasonable score. He bowls at a decent pace and can move the ball just enough to keep the batsmen honest. Additionally, he is accurate and so far has recorded the best economy rate (7.88) among all CSK bowlers.

Tonight he will come up against one of the most destructive batsmen in T20 cricket in the form of Evin Lewis and although the West Indian has not been making big scores, he is looking in good form. Despite averaging only 24.50, he is striking at 148.48 and after being dismissed for 0 and 5 in his last two games, he would like to get a big score tonight.

#3 Dwayne Bravo v Kieron Pollard

Dwayne Bravo

Ever since he first joined MI eight years ago, Kieron Pollard has been an integral part of the team and has been responsible for the franchise emerging as one of the most successful in the IPL. However, things have not gone according to plan this year for the big West Indian and now that he does not bowl, his meagre returns with the bat so far must be a worry for the MI team management. He has averaged 15.75 and his strike rate is an equally abysmal 110.52.

That being said, he is the sort of player who can come back into form any moment and in tonight’s game CSK’s West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo’s bowling could well be the perfect opportunity for him to do so. Pollard has an incredible record against him and has scored a whopping 182 runs off the 111 deliveries (164 strike rate) that he has faced from his fellow West Indian.

However, Bravo is no mug and he would have his own plans to tackle him, which is why this battle promises to be such a humdinger. If Pollard gets going then CSK might have a long night on their hands.

#2 Shane Watson v Jasprit Bumrah

Shane Watson

Shane Watson may be 36 years old but he remains one of the most dangerous opening batsmen in the IPL and despite his failures in the last two games, he remains a player who can take the game away from the opposition fairly quickly.

He is averaging 31.83 and striking at an astonishing rate of 161.86. In a crucial game for MI, they would want to remove him early if they are to entertain any chance of winning the encounter and in Jasprit Bumrah, they might have the perfect bowler to land a blow on CSK’s batting order early on.

The Indian fast bowler has not had the best tournament so far, but even then he has managed to pick up 8 wickets in 6 games with an economy rate of 7.37. His seam movement and skiddy bowling could be the perfect antidote to Watson, who has the tendency of planting his front foot in front of the stumps. However, if the Australian manages to dominate the fast bowler, then MI will need to come up with new plans.

#1 Imran Tahir v Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma

The MI captain is at his best when he opens the innings but he has relinquished that role. His highest of 94 against RCB came about when he arrived at the crease at 0 for 2 and perhaps it is time MI went back to making him open. A long innings from him could just be what they need and if he bats for a while, then he can unleash carnage in the middle overs. However, CSK have also been one of the best teams in the tournament in terms of middle-overs control.

They have given away runs at the rate of 8.57 per over and the man responsible for that control is leg-spinner, Imran Tahir. He has picked up 6 wickets in that phase and has been crucial in putting the brakes on the scoring. Even if Rohit comes in to bat at 4, he would most likely run into Tahir straightaway and if that happens, he would need to go after the spinner. It could be the most crucial battle in the entire game as one of the best hitters in the game would need to throw CSK off their game in a phase that they seem to dominate.