IPL 2018, RR vs CSK Match Prediction: Who will win today's match between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings know that a win would all but guarantee them a spot in the IPL 2018 playoffs while the Rajasthan Royals know that anything less than victory could well be the end of their hopes of making it to the playoffs.

With so much on the line as both teams take on each other at Jaipur, it will be interesting to see if the Royals can carry over their momentum from their win over Kings XI Punjab. CSK is also coming off a five-day break since their win over RCB and the question of whether they are slightly rusty is also one that will be answered on Friday.

With both teams looking for a win that could shape the rest of their season, how they approach the game will be something to keep an eye out for. Here is a look at what might happen in the crucial encounter at Jaipur:

Date: 11th May 2018

Venue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

Time: 8.00 PM IST

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If Rajasthan Royals bat first

Predicted Score - 165+

A morale-boosting win over Kings XI Punjab has put the Rajasthan Royals in a great position going into their final four games of the season. Although they still have to win all four to have a great chance of making it to the playoffs, they are just one win away from going level on points with the team currently in fourth place, Mumbai Indians.

The decision to promote Jos Buttler has been a godsend for the Royals. Not only has he got them off to great starts but has also managed to convert his own starts into scores that put his team in a position to win the game. While D'Arcy Short has struggled, Buttler's form has gone through a meteoric rise.

The rest of the batting is still a work in progress and that is one area where they definitely need to improve. Ajinkya Rahane needs to rediscover his batting form the rest of the middle-order need to chip in more frequently as well. Ben Stokes hasn't got going yet and although he has shown signs of promise, the Royals need something now if they are to overcome CSK.

Although CSK has had a lot of injuries to deal with and has swapped and changed their bowling line-up consistently, they have still shown that when it matters, they can deliver. With David Willey in the side, along with Dwayne Bravo, their death bowling just got a little stronger. And given the fragility that the Royals have shown so far this season, it will be interesting to see if they get a total in excess of 165.

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If Chennai Super Kings bat first

Predicted Score - 170+

Chennai Super Kings are in second place and thanks largely to just how consistent their batting has been this season. That rise to the second spot has been the result of consistent performances from two players few would have expected to be this good, this season.

Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni have been the cornerstone around which the CSK batting has been built. While this is already Rayudu's best season in IPL history, in terms of runs, average, and average, MS Dhoni has hit more sixes in 10 games this season than he has in any previous IPL campaign.

Along with those, Shane Watson has been integral in getting the side off to a good start. The trio all feature in the top ten in the running for the Orange Cap and that makes CSK the only side in the tournament with three players in the top ten. But those three are far from the only players who have played well this season.

Suresh Raina has a couple of fifties, Dwayne Bravo has won a game with the bat and so has Sam Billings and the side certainly have plenty of ways they go about winning a game. Against a rejuvenated Royals bowling side, who ended up winning the game against KXIP, they will have to be on song.

However, considering how consistent the CSK batting side has been, they would consider it a disappointment if they don't set up a total in excess of 170.

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Match Prediction

The battle between a side that is on the verge of reaching the playoffs and one that is looking to break into the top four will be fascinating. While CSK undoubtedly has the better batting unit, there is nothing they can do if the Royals batting finally catches fire. Although RR will have home advantage, CSK have the bowlers to maximize the conditions on offer. Given how impressive CSK are while chasing and how RR prefer batting first, it will certainly be advantage to MS Dhoni's side ahead of the clash in Jaipur.

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