CSK vs RR IPL 2019 Preview: Can Royals finally step up and stun formidable CSK?

Rajasthan Royals have lost both their IPL 2019 games and are now facing a strong CSK team that has remained unbeaten so far. And to make it more daunting the venue is CSK’s den- The MA Chidambaram stadium.

Royals are in desperate search of their first win in IPL season 12 while CSK will look to continue from where they left in their previous games.

Ahead of the royal rumble…#WhistlePodu ?? pic.twitter.com/WQ5U9fp14r

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 30, 2019

Venue:

The first match at this venue saw CSK finding it difficult to chase RCB’s target of 70 runs. Dhoni was certainly unhappy with the slowness of the wicket and hence expect a more batting-friendly track on March 31.

Form guide:

CSK bowlers are in prime form. The spin department knocked out RCB in the first game while Dwayne Bravo delivered a perfect death overs spell to choke Delhi in the second game.

Watson, Dhoni, Jadhav, Rayudu and Raina have all spent considerable time in the middle and they must be feeling good.

Despite two defeats Rajasthan would be happy with the way their top order has performed. Form of Ben Stokes can be a worry but importantly their pace bowling unit needs to fire asap.

Also read: Can These Players Lead The Game In CSK vs RR Playing11 IPL Match?

Key numbers:

• Rajasthan have a poor record as visitors and at Chennai they have had some bad memories. In the last two seasons they have won only twice in nine matches at away venues and importantly have lost their last five matches at this venue.

https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals/status/1112014117513166849

• Sanju Samson needs just one more run to score 2000 IPL runs while Suresh Raina is playing his 150th match for CSK.

Also read: CSK VS RR Dream11 Prediction Small League Teams, Match Preview & Playing 11

Players in focus

SRH negated the threat of Jos Buttler by feeding him the leg spin of Rashid Khan. Will CSK deploy the same strategy? They do have an ideal man for this job. Imran Tahir can be a good bait against Buttler and the leggie has done well against Sanju Samson who scored the first hundred of IPL 2019. Samson has scored only 21 runs off Tahir’s 20 balls he has faced so far.

#ParasakthiExpress expresses at length, pretty much like the Odinen Odinen dialogue about all the #Yellove and the entourage with the Super Kings! #WhistlePodu ??https://t.co/kNOnUKzNww

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 29, 2019

Dwayne Bravo is an exceptional death over bowler. But in the form of Steve Smith, RR have the perfect weapon against him. Bravo has conceded 60 runs against Smith off 35 balls.