IPL 2018, CSK vs RCB: 5 players battles to look forward to

The Chennai Super Kings are in no imminent danger of slipping out of the top four but they would not want to surrender a top 2 spot and hence, they would be desperate for a win at home this evening.

Their loss against the Kolkata Knight Riders in the previous game was a disappointing one but today they will come up against another team who must be high on confidence. The Royal Challengers Bangalore are up to 5th place after their win in the previous game and with the expected return of AB de Villiers, they would fancy their chances of going on a run of wins.

On the other hand, this remains one of the IPL’s biggest rivalries and considering the sort of game these teams played out last time they met, the sense of anticipation around the game is going to be all-consuming.

Both teams boast of some of the biggest stars in the game and some of the battles that will take place today at Pune will eventually decide the game. Here is a look at 5 of the biggest battles that will take place today.

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#5 Lungi Ngidi vs Virat Kohli

The contest between these two was a fascinating one during the South Africa-India Test series earlier this year and today, it will be reignited at Pune when Virat Kohli takes on South Africa’s young paceman Lungi Ndidi this afternoon.

The RCB captain is in fine form and has already made 349 runs in 8 games, at an average of 58.16. He is striking at 138.49 and if RCB are to win the game today against their Southern rivals then Kohli would almost certainly have to play a big hand.

Now, although CSK’s attack has not been particularly impressive so far, the addition of Ngidi has added some much-needed teeth into the attack and in his two games so far, the young South African has been quite impressive. In his first game, he picked up 1/26 in 4 overs against Delhi Daredevils and picked up the crucial wicket of Rishabh Pant to pretty much end the game.

He went at 9 an over in his previous game against Kolkata Knight Riders but he troubled the batsmen in his first spell and if he can do that again, then a super contest might be on the cards today in Pune.

#4 Suresh Raina vs Umesh Yadav

The CSK number 3 has been one of the most consistent performers over the course of his IPL career and although it has not been a vintage year for Suresh Raina, he has still made 236 runs in 8 games at an average of 39.33.

He is striking at 135.63 and has made two fifties so far. In today’s game, his tussle against India team-mate Umesh Yadav is going to be one to look out for and not only because of Raina’s well-known vulnerability against fast short-pitched bowling.

Yadav has been one of the best fast bowlers in the tournament so far and his spell today is going to be vital for RCB if they are to have some control over the marauding CSK top order. The fast bowler has bagged 11 wickets so far in 8 games and has recorded an excellent economy rate of 8.34.

His pace, bounce and movement would possibly be brought on as soon as Raina comes in to bat and it is going to make for fascinating viewing. More importantly, it would also have a big influence on the game.

#3 Imran Tahir vs AB de Villiers

The return of AB de Villiers to the eleven for today’s game is a huge boost for the RCB and considering the sort of hitting he can unleash on a bowling attack, CSK would be wary of him. In the previous encounter, the South African played a savage innings in which he made 68 in 30 balls and slammed as many as 8 sixes.

The man who got him out that day was his South Africa team-mate Imran Tahir and in today’s game, it is the leg-spinner’s duel with his former captain that may well have a telling effect of the game.

Tahir, who played in Pune last season for the Rising Pune Supergiant, has an excellent track-record at the venue and has picked up a total of 15 wickets so far. However, it is the nature of the truly bizarre records that the two players have against each other in the IPL that makes it so interesting.

Tahir has taken the wicket of De Villiers’ on two occasions but on the other hand, he has also been clobbered at a rate of 185.7 runs per 100 balls. So, this is a duel in which anything can happen and promises to be a bit of a rollercoaster.

#2 MS Dhoni vs Tim Southee

When these two teams met last time, CSK captain MS Dhoni played an innings for the ages and pummelled the RCB death bowlers into submission to help his team chase down a 200-plus target.

Dhoni has been in superb hitting form this season and his strike rate of 169.58 is no accident. In addition to that, he is CSK’s 2nd highest scorer with 329 runs to his name and is averaging an astonishing 82.25.

However, this time, RCB’s death bowling personnel have changed and it is being fronted by the hugely experienced Tim Southee. He has markedly improved their death bowling and his superb show in the last game against MI was a case in point.

In the two games that he has played so far, he has only picked up 2 wickets but has only given away 7.37 runs an over. So, Dhoni will have a fresh new challenge this time around in the slog overs and everyone would be looking forward to his tactics against one of the best death bowlers in the world.

#1 Shane Watson vs Yuzvendra Chahal

It is the grand battle between CSK’s marauding opening batsman and RCB’s best spin bowler. Shane Watson may be 36 years old but he remains one of the most dangerous opening batsmen in the IPL and his current haul of 317 runs at a strike rate of 163.40 is ample proof of the sort of mayhem he can unleash.

He is in outstanding hitting form and if he does get going against RCB today, then Virat Kohli is going to have another long evening on his hands.

However, at the same time, it shouldn’t be ignored that the all-rounder has had his troubles against spin and it has been the case this season as well. Hence, his duel against RCB’s leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal could well turn out to be one of the most important head to head contests in the game.

He can bowl in the powerplay as well and go straight at Watson from the outset. So far, he has recorded an economy rate of 7.62 and has picked up 7 wickets.

His clever changes of length, line and variety are going to be a challenge for Watson, but at the same time, he is a player who can really hurt any bowler on his day. This could well turn out to be the match-defining battle.

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