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

#1 Shane Watson vs Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes

The biggest duel in the game is going to be between the old Australian warhorse and the Englishman, who is currently the best all-rounder in the world. Ben Stokes ended as the player of the tournament last year and he remains a key member of the RR set up. Although he has not been at his imperious best yet, the signs are there that he is getting there.

He can turn a game with both the bat and the ball. However, he has not got going yet and the game against CSK could be the perfect platform for him to return to his very best.

On the other hand, 36-year-old Shane Watson has been one of the IPL’s most consistent all-rounders since its inception and continues to be one of the most important players in the team. His hitting as an opening batsman has been exemplary this year, and with a strike rate of 164.28, he can really hurt the opposition during the Powerplays.

On the bowling front, he is CSK’s highest wicket-taker with a total of five wickets and he has recorded an economy rate of 8.30, which isn’t bad at all. Stokes and Watson will both bat and bowl against each other and this is a battle that everyone must be looking forward to.

In addition to that, this battle is almost certainly going to have a big say in the ultimate result of the game.