Chennai Super Kings v Rajasthan Royals
19/10/20, 3pm (BST), Abu Dhabi
WINNER
CHENNAI SUPER KINGS – 4/5
V
RAJASTHAN ROYALS – 1/1
Match Preview
Two teams that managed to lose from winning positions over the weekend, their IPL campaigns have never really got off the ground and the loser of this game will see any already unlikely play-off prospects, vanish.
Rajasthan Royals are rock bottom after nine games with five to play, but could have easily come away with a win on Saturday but for some AB de Villiers magic.
They are unsure of their best line-up with Jos Buttler and Steve Smith now batting down the order and Robin Uthappa out of the wilderness to open.
Chennai Super Kings meanwhile – also four points off the top four – look to have settled on a formula and were unlucky to come off second best against Delhi Capitals with Dwayne Bravo injured and unable to bowl at the death.
Their recent performances mean CSK are favourites at 4/5 while the Royals are 1/1 to close the gap.
Our Prediction
Steve Smith to hit over 0.5 sixes – 5/4
After a bright start to the tournament, Smith has had a miserable time both with the bat and as captain for the Royals, but he showed encouraging signs of a return to form on Saturday.
He should enjoy the spin-heavy attack of CSK and with the slightly smaller boundaries at Abu Dhabi, his new-found confidence and form will encourage him to try and clear to ropes.
Buttler’s return to a familiar middle order role makes him good value to get over 25.5 runs at 11/10, but backing Faf du Plessis to be leading run-scorer for CSK at 12/5 also looks like good value after returning to form with 58 over the weekend.
Top Run-scorers
CSK | RR |
Faf du Plessis – 365 | Sanju Samson – 236 |
Shane Watson – 277 | Rahul Tewatia – 222 |
Ambati Rayudu – 237 | Steve Smith – 220 |
Ravi Jadeja – 159 | Jos Buttler – 192 |
Top Wicket-takers
DC | CSK |
Sam Curran – 10 | Jofra Archer – 12 |
Shardul Thakar – 9 | Rahul Tewatia – 6 |
Deepak Chahar – 8 | Shreyas Gopal – 6 |
Dwayne Bravo – 6 | Kartik Tyagi – 5 |
PREVIOUS PREDICTIONS
MATCH | SELECTION | ODDS |
Delhi Capitals v Rajasthan Royals | Under 328.5 runs in the match | 11/10 |
Rajasthan Royals v Royal Challengers Bangalore | Rajasthan Royals to record the highest opening partnership | 1/1 |
Delhi Capitals v Chennai Super Kings | Faf du Plessis to score over 27.5 runs | 11/10 |