IPL: Chennai, Rajasthan set for royal battle

Despite a slow start with both bat and ball, MS Dhoni-led Super Kings got past the finish line comfortably, thanks to chief contributors Ambati Rayudu, Faf du Plessis and Piyush Chawla. Three-time title-winner CSK, coached by Kiwi Stephen Fleming, will once again rely on the experienced players to come good against Rajasthan.

At the top of the order, Shane Watson and Murali Vijay, neither of whom had the greatest of outings in the opener, will be keen to get going. As West Indian Dwayne Bravo is yet to get fully fit, Sam Curran will have a huge role to play as an all-rounder. Englishman Curran is in fine nick, having impressed in both departments on his CSK debut.

As far as the bowlers are concerned, pacer Lungi Ngidi and Ravindra Jadeja went for plenty in the previous game, but are expected to come up with better performances. On Monday, Super Kings heaved a sigh of relief as Ruturaj Gaikwad, who along with 12 others tested positive for the coronavirus last month, returned to training.

Rajasthan, which will turn out for the first time in IPL 2020, has a huge task at hand. RR will be without all-rounder Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, but is bolstered by the presence of captain Steve Smith, who has been cleared to play after recovering from concussion.

While Stokes is with his ailing father in New Zealand, wicketkeeper-batsman Buttler is undergoing quarantine as he arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) separately with his family. South African David Miller and English fast bowler Jofra Archer will be key to the side as Rajasthan’s Indian contingent isn’t a force to reckon with.

Experienced campaigners Robin Uthappa, Sanju Samson, Jaydev Unadkat and Varun Aaron will have to be at their best if RR aims to defeat Super Kings.