MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders are two sides in great form at the moment with two successive wins since the return of IPL 2021, and with both teams inside the top 4 in the race for the playoffs, this match promises plenty of entertainment so let’s take a look at some key match-ups going into this battle of the 3-time Champions vs the 2-time Champions.
1. Shubman Gill VS Shardul Thakur & Deepak Chahar
View this post on Instagram
Shubman Gill has been called for being a bit slow off the blocks at times but in the last two games vs RCB and MI, Gill looked positive from the word go and had a S/R of 143 in both games. However, he comes up against Shardul Thakur who has dismissed him 3 times in all 3 innings that he has faced him so far in the IPL and that might have an impact on the PowerPlay for KKR. Shubman does have more success vs Deepak Chahar though, striking it at 150 vs CSK’s latest king of swing, so it will be interesting to see what approach young Shubman takes vs the seamers of CSK.
2. Dhoni vs KKR’s Spin-Twins – Narine & Varun
View this post on Instagram
Fans have been waiting for a vintage MS Dhoni innings for a while now but the task might be tough up against two men that have troubled the legend in the IPL. Captain Cool has a Strike Rate of just 53 against Sunil Narine and actually scored his first-ever boundary vs him in their last match! Meanwhile, Varun Chakravarthy seems to be the latest thorn in the flesh for MSD as he has been dismissed twice in 2 innings in just the 9 deliveries he has faced from the mystery spinner. Dhoni has an average of 72 and a S/R of 143 vs KKR when CSK bats first vs an average of just 19 when CSK chases, so which MSD will we see when the two sides square off on Sunday?
3. The Champion vs Muscle Russell – The battle of the big West Indians
View this post on Instagram
Dwayne Bravo is the most experienced man in T20 Cricket and coming off a MOM performance vs RCB, he will be brimming with confidence, as his changes of pace have been lethal in all phases of the innings. Up against him though will be Andre Russell, who has been lethal vs CSK. He has his highest average, most fifties and 2nd most runs against the Men in Yellow at a Strike-Rate of 173 and when the two teams met earlier this year, Russell scored 54 off just 22 balls. Dwayne Bravo has dismissed his fellow West Indian 6 times in 22 innings but not before Russell has bludgeoned him – Russell has scored 284 runs from just 133 balls vs Dwayne Bravo, which means we could be in for some fireworks!
[Image Credit: ANI]
Suhail Chandhok
Vertical Head - Sports