FANTASY
Follow UsThe state of the Chennai Super Kings has turned around its head in just two match-days, where they have gone from being comfortable at the top of the table to being in a jittery state to finishing in the top two. While only prayers could help them on Wednesday, when Royal Challengers Bangalore take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad, their clash against Punjab could very well decide their fate.
With the best net run-rate in the league, Chennai shouldn’t be too pensive but the dynamics of the league is such that we still don’t have the top two decided. In the last two games, Chennai’s bowling has been far from its best and the batting – has had its own share of struggles. While Ambati Rayudu’s form might be a positive thing, the negative impact of MS Dhoni’s innings surely could come as a haunting prospective.
On the other hand, Punjab still have a tiny chance of qualification but they will not only have to win big but would also have to hope that all the other contenders around them shouldn’t walk away with two points. But this is where it gets interesting: last season, it was CSK who eliminated Punjab from qualification, can they turn it around?
Head to Head
Overall
Matches - 25 | Chennai - 16 | Punjab - 9
Last 5 matches
Chennai – W4 | Punjab – W1
Ground Details
In the second leg of the Indian Premier, Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DSC) has been the only truly competitive. Unlike the pitches in Sharjah or Abu Dhabi, where conditions in the past have slowed down, aiding to the bowlers, the pitches in Dubai have offered steady batting conditions. Since 2018, the average score at the venue has been 158 in 86 games, with 44 games won by the team batting side.
While the conditions have slightly been in favour of teams batting first, five sides have won the toss and chose to field first this season because of how chasing has been easy at the venue. In this IPL, six games have been won by sides chasing at the venue, which suggests that it stays true to its nature throughout.
Unlike other venues, the balance between pacers and spinners has been close here, with 74 wickets for the quicks, at 24.2 while spinners have picked up 31 wickets at 27.2.
Suggested Team
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your own team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Based on your preferences, the platform will guide you to create the ideal fantasy XI.
Suggested captain
Ignoring Ruturaj Gaikwad’s talent and his form might be two things that you would not want to do. And for the rightful reasons, there is a strong possibility of him turning your fantasy side from being ordinary to leading the charts. Barring the failure against Delhi Capitals, where he scored a run-a-ball 13, he has been in scintillating form in the Middle East. In Dubai, Gaikwad has an average of 48.6 and 33.5 against Punjab.
Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Ruturaj to score between 34-50 runs against PBKS.
X-factors
Mayank Agarwal
While KL Rahul might have the orange cap and be the franchise’s leading run-scorer this season, it is his batting partner, Mayank Agarwal, who has made a real impact. “In T20s, the openers get the bulk of the runs, you don't get middle-order players scoring 500-600 runs in a season,” said Rahul in the aftermath of Punjab’s loss against Bangalore. Mayank’s runs have come at a value, at a strike-rate of 142.05, with a control of nearly 80.1%. If Punjab stand a close chance of winning the game, it would be down to the opener’s influence.
Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Mayank to score between 41-61 runs against CSK.
Ravindra Jadeja
While Ravindra Jadeja’s impact with the ball has withered away in the Middle East, his batting and more importantly, his finishing touches have been influential to CSK’s golden run. Against the Punjab Kings, Jadeja averages 24.91 with the bat. More importantly, this season for the Super Kings, Jadeja’s influence in the death overs has been unparalleled to, with the southpaw scoring 172 runs in the last five overs stage, at a strike rate of 195.45. Alongside that, he will have an opportunity to add more wickets to his tally.
Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur has been a silent warrior in the Chennai’s bowling unit. Since the move to the Middle East, the Mumbai all-rounder has picked up 10 wickets, averaging just 15.8, at 6.6 RPO, where his impact has been quintessential to Chennai’s progress. In the past two years, Thakur has enjoyed a great run against Punjab, making him a crucial factor to Chennai’s season.
Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Thakur to pick between 2-3 wickets against PBKS.
Player match-ups
While Deepak Chahar tormented the Punjab Kings last time when these two sides met each other, he still wasn’t behind KL Rahul’s downfall. In 63 balls that Chahar has bowled to Rahul, the Indian opener has scored 86 runs, at a strike-rate of 136.51 without being dismissed once. Given Rahul’s importance to the Punjab setup, it would be crucial for Chennai and Chahar to turn this form around against Rahul if they are to win their last league encounter.
Playing XI
Chennai Super Kings: Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Josh Hazlewood, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar
Punjab Kings: KL Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Shahrukh Khan, Moises Henriques, Harpreet Brar, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh