IPL 2020, Match 49: Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders - Match Prediction

In the 49th match of IPL 2020, Chennai Super Kings will go head to head against Kolkata knight Riders at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Thursday. Kolkata dropped to the fifth spot after their loss to Kings XI Punjab, and Chennai are already out of the playoff contention and could play party spoilers for Kolkata.

In their earlier meeting in the first half of the season, KKR trumped over CSK in a close encounter by 10 runs. However, KKR has had a topsy turvy season so far, winning few, losing few. Meanwhile, CSK would look to treat their fans some with some entertainment in their last two games.

Kolkata Knight Riders ran into a rolling Kings XI Punjab, who are now on a five-match winning streak, and lost comfortably by eight wickets. KKR batting has been disarray of the highest order. Rahul Tripathi has been unsuccessful in the IPL at positions other than the opening slot.

In their last game, with Sunil Narine at number 6, and Nagarkoti and Cummins to follow, the tail looked too long. KKR have only themselves to blame for their current state; horribly out of form, Dinesh Karthik should be assigned the finishing role but is batting higher up the order, where Morgan should be batting.

While Eoin Morgan has been scoring runs, plenty of his captaincy decisions are questionable, least of all not to bowl Lockie Ferguson earlier. Sunil Narine, with his remodelled action, hasn’t been threatening at all. To add to their woes, there is no confirmation on the fitness of Andre Russell yet, who himself has been disappointing with the bat.

Chennai Super Kings snapped their three-match losing streak by defeating RCB comfortably by eight wickets. Ruturaj Gaikwad with a well-paced half-century was awarded the Man of the Match. CSK bowlers did really well to restrict a strong RCB batting line-up to under 150.

MS Dhoni has said earlier about giving chances to youngsters and make observations keeping the future in mind. CSK would want to win their remaining games and give their fans a reason to cheer in what has been a disappointing season.

IPL 2020, Match 49: Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders- Match Prediction

As bad as KKR has performed in the season, they still have managed six wins. Varun Chakravarthy, Pat Cummins and Lockie Ferguson are their strong suits in the bowling department, and Shubman Gill regained his touch with a fifty in their last game. If coach Brendon McCullum and captain Eoin Morgan can, for one match try not to do the unorthodox and stick with each players’ strength, KKR has a team to dismantle any opposition. The prediction is for KKR to win, and finally, make changes within the eleven to make it stable.

Also Read: IPL 2020, Match 49: Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders – CSK Predicted XI