Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals: Q1 spot for RR or will CSK spoil the party
The group stage of IPL 2022 has almost reached an end. But with two spots still left to be filled, the race will go down to the wire. Match number 68 of IPL will see the clash of Rajasthan Royals, who are chasing one of the two playoff spots, and Chennai Super Kings at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai
End of an Era for CSKThe two teams will clash for the first time this season, and it couldn't have come at such a crucial stage for Rajasthan.
Rajasthan Royals have 16 points in their bag, sitting in third place on the table. After winning the game against Chennai Super Kings, they can solidify their position in the top two, giving them a cherry at the top to make it through to the final. A loss here might put them out of the competition despite being one of the best performers in the complete tournament. Midway through the match, Rajasthan was phenomenal, but even Jos Buttler struggled in the past few games. Apart from their leading run-scorer, their highest wicket-taker, Yuzvendra Chahal, has struggled to control the flow of runs in the last few matches. Still, the team with the most powerful batting and bowling unit will need to be at their best to seal their fate and not rely on the other team's result.
On the other hand, Chennai Super Kings will look to end this underwhelming season on a high note rather than finishing at the bottom of the table. They have failed to defend their crown this season as it has been full of ups and downs. However, by the end of the tournament, they have looked to figure out their key players for future seasons in the form of bowlers like Simarjeet Singh and Mukesh Choudhary. Devon Conway getting along with Ruturaj Gaikwad at top-order is a plus.
Players to watch out for
Batters: Devon Conway and Shimron Hetmyer
Devon Conway has been impressive at the top with 236 runs in 6 matches, averaging 47. Shimron Hetmyer has added value to the team despite coming to bat down the order by smashing 291 runs at an average of 72 runs in 11 matches. Both will look to contribute to the franchise in this crucial clash.
Bowlers: Matheesha Pathirana and Yuzvendra Chahal
Matheesha Pathirana has picked up two wickets in his debut match and has been impressive with his middle and death overs bowling. In contrast, Yuzvendra Chahal is now the joint leading wicket-taker after scalping 24 wickets in 13 matches. Lots of hopes would be on leggie tonight.
Stats to keep an eye on
- In the 11 games where Shimron Hetmyer has played for Rajasthan Royals, they hit six every 7.6 balls in the last five overs. However, in the absence of Hetmyer, the Royals have averaged one-six every 30 balls between overs 16-20.
- Yuzvendra Chahal is two wickets away from tying with Imran Tahir's tally of 26 (in 2019), the most wickets by a spinner in a single IPL season.
While one team will be fighting to finish in the top two, the other team will be looking to avoid the bottom place in the points table. Will Chennai Super Kings prove to be a party spoiler for Rajasthan, or will Rajasthan be able to handle the pressure well?