IPL 2020: Match 4: Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings: CSK Predicted XI

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opened their account with a victory over Mumbai Indians on Saturday in their first IPL 2020 game in Abu Dhabi. They will square off against Rajasthan Royals in their next encounter in Sharjah and would be looking forward to continuing their dominant run.

Also Read: IPL 2020: Match 4: Rajasthan Royals Vs Chennai Super Kings: RR Predicted XI

One could not help but think the inaugural edition of the final between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings. The only constant between then and now is MS Dhoni, who still serves as the captain of the yellow army. CSK also leads the head to head battle between the two sides, winning 14 out of the 21 games.

We take a look at CSK’s predicted XI ahead of their IPL game against Rajasthan Royals:

Murali Vijay:

Murali Vijay looked increasingly distorted in the game against Mumbai Indians while opening the batting. Murali Vijay looked like a pale shadow of the batsman of the initial seasons of IPL when he used to hit sixes for fun.

Instead, the 35-year old looked out of sorts against the likes of James Pattinson and Trent Boult. Pattinson claimed his wicket off the seventh ball, trapping him on the crease. Vijay also failed to review the LBW decision, which was missing the leg-stump.

Shane Watson:

Shane Watson is arguably one of the most destructive openers and plays the best while batting at the top order instead of in the middle. Shane Watson came within a few inches the last year of guiding Chennai to their fourth title with his masterclass and gutsy knock.

On Saturday, the all-rounder carted a boundary off Trent Boult in the fifth ball of the innings. In the very next delivery, the left-arm seamer hit him right in front of the pads, which the umpire had no trouble in raising the finger. He would be looking forward to making amends.

Faf Du Plessis:

Faf Du Plessis came in at a challenging time for the three-time champions and remained not out by the end of the innings. Faf Du Plessis shared a partnership of 115 runs along with Ambati Rayudu to rescue their side out of deep trouble in pursuit of 163.

The former South African captain played the anchor role and let Rayudu go for the big hits. The 35-year old hit the winning runs to remain 58 not out as Chennai romped home by five wickets. Du Plessis also displayed his brilliance on the field by taking two outstanding catches.

Ambati Rayudu:

Ambati Rayudu was the star of CSK’s during their run-chase against Mumbai that completed successfully by five wickets. For his whirlwind knock of 71 off 48 deliveries, the 34-year old received the man of the match.

Though Mumbai Indians made plenty of fielding lapses, Rayudu deserves credit for counterattacking when the chips were down. The right-handed batsman would be looking forward to building upon his brilliant start.

Ravindra Jadeja:

Until the 15th over of Mumbai Indians’ innings, Ravindra Jadeja had conceded 37 runs in three overs without a wicket. However, things drastically turned his last over as he claimed two big fish of the defending champions. The left-arm spinner plucked the wickets of Hardik Pandya and Saurabh Tiwary.

Pandya and Tiwary were rapidly taking the game away from Chennai and Du Plessis’ successive stunning catches on the fence contributed to their dismissal. Jadeja ended with figures of 4-42-2 and scored ten runs off five balls, laced with two boundaries.

Sam Curran:

Sam Curran was yet another star performer and significantly contributed to the Super Kings’ victory. Sam Curran, who got the nod ahead of Dwayne Bravo, finished with figures of 4-0-28-1 and scored 18 off six deliveries to make the run chase easier for his side.

Curran arrived at the crease when the yellow army needed 29 from 17 deliveries and smashed two sixes and a boundary to put the victory in sight. With Bravo unavailable for the Tuesday’s game as well, the 22-year old will retain his spot.

MS Dhoni (c&wk):

MS Dhoni took one catch behind the stumps to dismiss Krunal Pandya off Lungi Ngidi’s bowling. However, the most notable aspect of his captaincy was to promote Sam Curran ahead of him that eventually proved as a masterstroke.

The 39-year old finished unbeaten without opening his account in two deliveries and watched Faf Du Plessis hit the winning runs. The keeper-batsman would be aiming for his side to put on a better fielding display that was glaring in Saturday’s game.

Kedar Jadhav:

Kedar Jadhav provides not only the batting depth but also the extra bowling option for MS Dhoni. Despite not performing any of those roles in Saturday’s game, Kedar Jadhav will retain his spot as Chennai will require him at some stage to break some pesky stands.

Piyush Chawla:

Piyush Chawla outperformed every spinner that there was in the match through his miserly bowling and threatening spells. Piyush Chawla was the one to break the encouraging opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Quinton De Kock of 46 in 4.4 overs.

By taking the wicket of the Mumbai Indians’ skipper, the veteran leggie surpassed Harbhajan Singh in the list of highest wicket-takers in IPL. With 151 scalps, Chawla is the third-highest wicket-taker and on Saturday, he ended with figures of 4-0-21-1.

Deepak Chahar:

Deepak Chahar could not begin his spell well; however, he was impressive in the death and middle overs with his variations. Deepak Chahar started with removing the well-set Suryakumar Yadav in the 11th over for 17 off 16 deliveries.

In the final over, the 27-year old claimed the wicket of Trent Boult, who perished for a first-ball duck and was the ninth wicket to fall. Chahar would be aiming towards adopting more consistency with his bowling, finishing with figures of 4-0-32-2.

Lungi Ngidi:

Lungi Ngidi suffered the same fate as Chahar as Quinton De Kock dealt piled on the misery on his countryman in his first over itself. However, by the time, Mumbai Indians’ got innings, Lungi Ngidi was the pick of the bowler.

Ngidi began with sending Krunal Pandya in the 17th over followed by the dangerous Kieron Pollard in the 19th. The South African seamer claimed his third by removing Pattinson, who played a tiny and handy cameo. He finished with figures of 4-0-38-3.