Big picture
On paper, it is a clash between the two top sides who have had decent results so far in IPL 2021. But, after the resumption of IPL 2021 after the first round of matches, there appears to be a wider gap between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore with a mere two-point margin. The Super Kings toppled the Mumbai Indians in their own game, seemingly dead and buried but like the Undertaker in WWE, to chokeslam and tombstone piledrivers the defending champions. Royal Challengers, on the other hand, sank in one of their heaviest defeats against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Royal Challengers in their first return game missed the runs provided by AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell in the India leg of the tournament. The rest of the batting revolved around the two middle-order powerhouses, but when neither of them was moving, it looked like there was a huge hole in the line-up. However, it was just a game in the resumption, and Virat Kohli insisted that the team has no reason to panic.
But could this prompt a rethinking of their combination? Tim David waits behind a successful year and brought consistent runs in the CPL recently at a brisk pace. Bringing him in would mean two changes: a batsman and a Wanindu Hasaranga/Kyle Jamieson sitting out, while David and a bowler - possibly Shahbaz Ahmed - come into the equation. However, given that it has been only one match at this stage, Kohli doesn't want to change too much.
Meanwhile, the Super Kings began their UAE leg in dire straits, before impressing a miraculous turn-around built on a remarkable innings from Ruturaj Gaikwad. It was a victory of sorts - against a bogey opposition - that infuses one side with extra confidence.
In the news
Sam Curran should have completed his mandatory quarantine period, which means he is available for the Super Kings. The question is, who can he leave out of Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Dwayne Bravo and Josh Hazlewood to fit Curren? He has to strike a balance with Ambati Rayudu's fitness as well. His X-rays did not show any broken bones, but he had a nasty bruise on his left elbow. If Rayudu is still not match-fit, Robin Uthappa has a replacement available. Super Kings can also think of bringing in Karan for du Plessis. Otherwise, Karan could be a direct swap for Bravo, although it would be extremely harsh for Bravo.
Likely XIs
- Chennai Super Kings: 1 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2 Moeen Ali, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Ambati Rayudu, 5 MS Dhoni (capt, wk), 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Dwayne Bravo, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Deepak Chahar, 11 Josh Hazlewood
- Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1 Virat Kohli (capt), 2 Devdutt Padikkal, 3 KS Bharat (wk), 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 AB de Villiers, 6 Sachin Baby, 7 Kyle Jamieson, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Harshal Patel, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal
Strategy punt
- It's not really a punt, a 'everyone is aware of this tactic' - but Royal Challengers will want to target Suresh Raina with their fast bowlers. Raina has scored 61 against pace and 66 against spin so far in IPL 2021. Strike rates tell the whole story though - 91 and 183 respectively. Raina was tossed by the Mumbai pacers and was dismissed for a fuller delivery after camping on the backfoot hoping for a short ball. Jamieson and Siraj are especially likely to be put on service as Raina walks out to bat.
- De Villiers is a perfect T20 batsman despite being dismissed off his first ball against the Knight Riders, but teams should take advantage of a sign of weakness. Since IPL 2019, de Villiers has been middling against the fingers with an average of 20.7 and a strike rate of 112. In Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali, there are two capable fingerspinners who can try to take down Super Kings de Villiers.
Stats that matter
- While overall Super Kings have won 17 out of 27 matches in this competition, the recent record is even higher, with Royal Challengers winning two of their last five matches (since IPL 2018).
- Kohli is 66 runs away from becoming the fifth player after Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Shoaib Malik and David Warner to score 10,000 runs in T20 cricket.