IPL 2018 CSK vs RR: 5 player battles to look forward to between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals

#3 MS Dhoni vs Jos Buttler

MS Dhoni

The former Indian captain got back into superb six-hitting form in the previous game when he belted a 44-ball 79 against Kings XI Punjab, and MS Dhoni’s clinical hitting will have a big say in CSK’s middle-order push tonight at Pune.

However, RR have their very own wicketkeeper-batsman, who can match Dhoni shot for shot, in the form of Englishman Jos Buttler, and the batting of these two should have a big say in the eventual outcome of the game.

They are both capable of brutal power-hitting towards the rear end of the innings, and if they succeed, then their teams will definitely be in with a chance of winning the contest.

However, it needs to be remembered that while Dhoni appears in supreme form, Jos Buttler has still not really got going, and his highest score so far is only 27. That being said, he has recorded a strike rate of almost 139 and perhaps the CSK attack could well be the bowling attack that finally helps him in playing one of his signature knocks.

Dhoni, the CSK captain, will surely have plans in place for him, but the battle between the wicketkeeper-batsmen is going to be a pivotal one in the game.