Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Ruturaj Gaikwad from left to right. (Agencies)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings will meet on Saturday in a playoff decider at the M.Chinnaswamy. Both teams are coming on the back of wins and have momentum on their side. In the opening fixture of IPL 2024, CSK had a clinical win against RCB. However, the latter has been on a winning run in the second half of the tournament and is playing at home which will pose a different challenge for CSK this time around.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s side has been inconsistent this season which is something unheard of with CSK. In the seasons gone by it has been all or nothing for them. Either they reach the playoff in cantor or linger at the bottom of the table. In addition to inconsistency, another uncharacteristic thing CSK has started doing under its new captain is chopping and changing sides from game to game however, despite the new methods and their mixed results a win against RCB will give them a playoff spot irrespective of what has gone before.
Here are three areas in the game that might be decided
Virat Kohli vs Tushar Deshpande
In the first half of the season, Virat Kohli’s strike rate has been up for debate however, the RCB talisman in the second has answered the critics with his blazing starts in the Powerplay. Kohli has been striking at 162.94 in the Powerplay this season. Tushar Deshpande on the other hand for CSK has been in good form too this season conceding runs at 8.26 in the same phase and picking six of his 11 wickets in the first six overs. If the conditions were to assist seam bowling it would be an interesting contest between the duo.
Ravindra Jadeja vs RCB right-handers
The Bengaluru batting lineup has been stacked up with right-handers one after the other. However, though match-ups suggest left-arm spinner might get the better of them when the pitch is gripping a bit Rajat Patidar (strike rate 158.33), Faf du Plessis (strike rate 185.71) and Kohli (127.17) against left-arm spin have been efficient. On the contrary, although Jadeja has picked only eight wickets this year in a season where spinners have been put to the sword he has been only going at 7.48.
CSK’s Powerplay woes
After an impressive 2023, the form of Ajinkya Rahane has been poor this season. Not only has he struggled to make scores of substance his strike rate too has been low (120.11) in the Powerplay. His lack of form combined with changing Gaikwad’s batting position has not helped their cause. Young sensation Rachin Ravindra who started the tournament playing a blistering cameo against RCB tapered off and got dropped which meant there was no real aggressor at the top to capitalize on the field restrictions in the Powerplay as a result CSK has third lowest run rate alongside Rajasthan Royals in the Powerplay of 8.65 this season compared to RCB’s 10.05 who are fourth on the table.
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