A ROYAL CHALLENGE AWAITS SUPER KINGS

CSK (4 points from 6 matches) has been struggling to get going, while RCB (6 points from 5matches) has been up and down so far. MS Dhoni-led Super Kings sank to a 10-run defeat at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in its previous match, one in which Kedar Jadhav’s batting at the death overs attracted criticism from all quarters.

The 35-year-old is yet to make a meaningful contribution for his side in IPL 2020, but it remains to be seen if CSK will opt to drop him. It is to be noted that Super Kings is known for giving a long rope to its experienced hands. If at all the franchise decides to bench Jadhav, it is expected to replace him with youngster Ruturaj Gaikwad or Narayan Jagadeesan.

The form of the rest of the middle-order, comprising Dhoni, Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja, is also a concern for the three-time champion. However, Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis have looked in good nick at the top of the order in recent games. While there are issues on the batting front, CSK has got better with its bowling.

West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo returned to wicket-taking ways against Kolkata, picking up three scalps, and that will bode well for Super Kings. Leg-spinner Karn Sharma, a like-for-like replacement for Piyush Chawla, would hope to come good again.

The pace-bowling department, consisting of Deepak Chahar, Curran and Shardul Thakur, will look for early breakthroughs against a top-heavy RCB side. Bangalore, which went down to Delhi Capitals (DC) in its last contest, would look for an improved performance.

Young opener Devdutt Padikkal and captain Virat Kohli are in good touch, while AB de Villiers has shown his destructive ability at the end. But, it is the bowling which will worry the skipper. The RCB attack, barring Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar, has been going for plenty of runs and will want to do better.

Isuru Udana’s inclusion has given a semblance of control towards the end of the innings, but he will need support from the rest of the unit.