Abu Dhabi: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be targeting their third win in the Dream11 Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 as they square off at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium here on Wednesday. Both the teams have won two games so far in this edition, but KKR occupies a better spot in the Points Table
Dinesh Karthi-led Kolkata Kolkata Knight Riders started their campaign with a loss against Mumbai Indians (MI). But they bounced back in style, registering two successive wins, beating Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). While they lost their fourth game of the season against Delhi Capitals (DC), KKR will take confidence from the spirited performance of Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan and Rahul Tripathi as they take on CSK. The MS Dhoni-led unit, on the other hand, will be seeking to continue their winning run. While CSK kicked-off their IPL 2020 season with a win over MI, they lost their next three games ? RR, DC and SRH. However, CSK dished out a dominating show with the bat against KXIP, winning the game by 10 wickets to register their second win of the season. The comeback of Shane Watson in that game will give them the much-needed boost for this tournament Coming to Match 21 of the season, CSK will be seeking their second successive win while KKR will want a winning return and these are the players who could make a difference to the fortunes of their respective teams.
Although Eoin Morgan is yet to score a fifty in the IPL 2020, England’s World Cup-winning captain is playing his role to perfection. While his 42 not out and 32 not out against SRH and RR played a big role in KKR’s victories, his 18-ball 44 against DC kept KKR in the hunt. The left-hander will once again be expected to come good with the bat.
Shane Watson could not score big in the first few games for CSK in the IPL 2020. However, the CSK opener made a sensational return to form against KXIP, hammering unbeaten 83 off 53 balls to halt CSK’s three-match losing streak and powering them to their second win of the season. The former Australian all-rounder will be eager to have another fine outing with the bat when CSK face KKR.
There have been some typically huge Andre Russell sixes, but the big-hitting West Indian all-rounder is yet to play that special knock, where he took on the opposition bowlers and what better day than a day when KKR face CSK.
Faf du Plessis has been CSK’s most consistent performer in the IPL 2020 and currently occupying the second spot in the list of leading run-getters with 282 runs against his name. Faf du Plessis scored an unbeaten 87 as he and Watson sealed CSK’s 10-wicket win over KXIP. The right-hander, who has three fifty-plus scores in the ongoing IPL season, needs 21 runs to earn the Orange Cap and he will look to score big and earn that coveted Orange Cap.
While Shardul Thakur did not feature in CSK’s playing XIs for the first few games, Shardul Thakur contributed with the ball as CSK beat KXIP. The right-arm pacer picked the two key wickets of Nicholas Pooran and KL Rahul just when it looked that the two would cut loose. Shardul will be keen to repeat, if not better, that performance against KKR.
Making his IPL debut for KKR, Rahul Tripathi played a fine 16-ball 36-run cameo against DC in a tall run-chase. While KKR could not cross the finish line, the right-hander will be seeking to contribute with the bat as KKR eye a win against CSK.
Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell need 10 and 52 runs respectively to complete 1000 and 1500 IPL runs. Russell is also 4 fours away from completing 100 IPL fours. Dinesh Karthik requires 53 runs to complete 1000 IPL runs as captain. MS Dhoni needs 51 runs to complete 4000 IPL runs for CSK. Faf du Plessis and Ambati Rayudu require 79 and 37 runs respectively to complete 2000 and 1000 IPL runs for CSK.