IPL 2018, RR v CSK: 5 player battles to look forward to in the game

The Rajasthan Royals are on the precipice and need to win tonight’s game at Jaipur if they are to stay alive in the tournament. That being said, RR are going to be up against one of the tournament’s best performing teams in the form of the Chennai Super Kings and they would need to be at their best if they are to win the game tonight at Jaipur.

They won their previous game at home against Kings XI Punjab and would like to repeat the feat. However, at the same time, CSK would be desperate for a win so that they can cement their place in the top 2 in the table and hence, it is going to be a tightly-contested game.

The game will also witness some intense battles, which will eventually have a big impact on the result of the game and here is a look at the 5 most eagerly anticipated ones.

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#5 Ben Stokes vs Imran Tahir

He is the world’s best all-rounder and one of the most expensive players in the IPL, however, Ben Stokes has not had the sort of tournament that everyone expected from him. The England all-rounder has only made 174 runs in 10 games at an average of 17.40 and a strike rate of 123.40. Those are disappointing numbers but at the same time, it must be noted that top players can come back into form out of nowhere and perhaps RR would like their star player to do just that against CSK tonight.

His troubles against spin are now well known and hence, his tussle against CSK spinner Harbhajan Singh is going to be an intriguing one. The Indian off-spinner has been in fine form in the tournament so far and in his previous game, he floored Royal Challengers with a superb spell of 2/22 in 4 overs.

In the 8 games that he has played so far, he may have only p[icked up 6 wickets but he has recorded an outstanding economy rate of 7.16. His control, spin, changes of pace and intelligence will be a fresh challenge for him and this particular battle in the middle overs promises to have a big impact on the game.

#4 K Gowtham vs Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu has been one of the most prolific scorers in the IPL so far and finds himself at number 5 in the run-scorers list in the tournament, with an aggregate of 423 runs. He has been responsible for getting CSK off to scorching starts and he is expected to open against tonight.

The right-handed batsman has recorded a brilliant strike rate of 151.61 but what is more impressive is the fact that he is mighty dangerous during the Powerplays. Only once has he been dismissed in that phase and in addition to that, he has scored at a rate of 9.64 per over so far (data from Cricinfo).

So, RR must find a way of keeping him in check during the Powerplay and one bowler who could do the job is their all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham. He has been an excellent bowler for them in the Powerplays and in fact, with a haul of 5 wickets so far, he has been the RR’s most potent bowlers in that phase (data from Cricinfo). Can he do the trick tonight against Rayudu or will the CSK batsman swat him away?

#3 Ish Sodhi vs MS Dhoni

Ish Sodhi

He has played only two games so far but leg-spinner Ish Sodhi has quietly become one of the best performers in the RR bowling attack. The Kiwi may have taken only 2 wickets in those games so far but he has given them a degree of control during the middle overs and that was something they sorely lacked.

His accurate leg-spin has had a stifling effect on batsmen so far and an economy rate of 5.57 is ample proof of his contributions so far. Tonight, he will come up against the most aggressive batting side in the tournament and his duel with MS Dhoni could well prove to be one of the most important ones in the game.

The CSK captain has turned back the clock in this season of the IPL and his power-hitting in the middle-order has been one of the major factors behind the team’s climb to the top half of the table.

He is the team’s highest run-scorer with a total of 360 runs in 10 games but more importantly, he is averaging 90 and is striking at an astonishing rate of 165.89 to go along with that average. He has the ability to kill off the game but at the same time Sodhi will pose a new challenge for him and it would be very interesting to see how Dhoni handles him.

#2 Jos Buttler vs Lungi Ngidi

Jos Buttler

The promotion of wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler to the top o the order three games ago has unlocked his full potential and the Englishman has reeled off three half-centuries (67, 51 and 82) in those games. Needless to say, Buttler is going to be the key for RR if they are to pose a serious challenge to the CSK bowling unit. His power-hitting capabilities are beyond doubt and he would be responsible for taking RR off to a fast start at Jaipur tonight.

His opening encounter with young South African paceman Lungi Ngidi is going to be the most interesting one and whoever emerges on top in that particular battle will have enhanced his team’s chances of winning the game. CSK’s bowling attack lacked penetration when it came to fast bowling but with the addition of the fast bowler that problem has been solved and in the three matches he has played so far, he has done admirably.

Ngidi has taken 3 wickets so far in as many games but he has recorded an economy rate of 7.81 and his accuracy, control, pace and bounce will be a challenge for Buttler. The battle promises to be a bruising one and will have a big say on how RR’s batting effort shapes up.

#1 Jofra Archer vs Shane Watson

Shane Watson

The Australian all-rounder has been a giant at the top of the order for CSK throughout this season’s IPL and in his previous game against RR, Shane Watson slammed 106 to knock the stuffing out of his old team. CSK won the game in a canter and Watson’s stock has only risen since then. He is averaging 32.80 and striking at 157.69 as an opener.

That being said, when CSK destroyed RR in the previous game, the latter’s attack did not have Jofra Archer and the presence of one of the world’s best T20 bowlers in the bowling attack is going to be a huge factor tonight.

In particular, his head-on contest with Watson at the start of the CSK innings is going to be the battle that everyone must be looking forward to. Archer’s performance against Chris Gayle two games ago must still be fresh in everyone’s mind and if he can deliver to that level, then a mouthwatering contest is on the offing tonight.