IPL 2018, Match 5: Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Match Predictions

Both sides will be hoping to continue their winning momentum.

Published - 09 Apr 2018, 18:34 IST | Updated - 09 Apr 2018, 18:34 IST

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The Chennai Super Kings cleared their toughest possible test away from home on the opening day of IPL 11 as they beat the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium which has been an absolute fortress for the reigning champions over the years.

MS Dhoni’s boys will now like to build on that start as they play their first home game tomorrow against another arch rivals the Kolkata Knight Riders who also got off to a fabulous start in the tournament last night by toppling the Royal Challengers Bangalore rather comprehensively.

There has been quite a bit of history between CSKk and KKR as these two teams have been involved in some really close games against each other in the past and as they resume their rivalry at the historical Chepauk, the fans will anticipate another nail-biter.

Pitch and Conditions

Chepauk will be a low and slow surface and there will be grip and turn for the spinners for sure. Heaving across the line won’t help the batsmen much at this venue and it will be more about skillful batting and be playing with a straight bat. The medium pacers who take the pace off the ball and disguise the slower deliveries well will be mighty effective too.

Generally, the Chepauk wicket doesn’t get any better for batting and the stroke-play, if anything, will be a tad more difficult going forward in the game. However since it’s a matter of only 20 overs, the surface will not deteriorate drastically.

Also there might just be a little bit of dew as well, not as much as the North Indian venues, but the outfield will certainly be a touch moist later in the evening, troubling the bowlers slightly in the second innings which means the captain’s decision at the toss, whoever wins it, will be to bowl first.

Playing Combination

Chennai Super Kings

Probable Change – Kedar Jadhav out, Murali Vijay in

Unfortunately, CSK will have to make a forced change in the XI they played last game. Kedar Jadhav, one of the heroes at Wankhede, who landed two crucial blows with the bat in the last over of the game to see CSK through is struggling with a hamstring injury and he won’t be a part of the XI for the next few games.

Murali Vijay will replace Jadhav in the XI and he will be slotted up top with Shane Watson, while Ambati Rayudu who opened against Mumbai will come down and take Jadhav’s position at no. 4.

Two of CSK’s overseas picks, Mark Wood and Imran Tahir, who were supposed to be their strike bowlers had a really off day the other evening, however, it’s unlikely that they will be dropped after just one poor performance gave the reputation they have come into the tournament with.

Predicted XI: Murali Vijay, Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (C & WK), Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Mark Wood, Shardul Thakur, Imran Tahir

Kolkata Knight Riders

Probable Change – Vinay Kumar out, Kamlesh Nagarkoti in

Vinay Kumar starting ahead of Nagarkoti against RCB was a surprise for everyone. The KKR management probably wanted a bit of control from the veteran which they thought they might not get from the young Nagarkoti, however Vinay was all over the place both upfront and in the death and ended up with an economy rate of 15 runs per over which is too much even in the shortest format of the game. The 34-year old, in all probability, will have to make way for Nagarkoti who is being tipped as a bright prospect, not only for KKR but for Indian cricket as well in future.

Rinku Singh is another player who is on the fringes, but he might just get another go as he is a power hitter and is an ideal fit for the no. 6 slot. Somebody like Shubman Gill who is the next man waiting in the wings is more of a top order player and is better off batting higher up the order than no. 6 which is the reason why KKR might not draft him in straightway on Rinku’s place and will rather show some patience with the Uttar Pradesh left-hander.

Predicted XI: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (C & WK), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Mitchell Johnson, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav

Team Comparison

CSK looks a more settled unit for the conditions at Chepauk, both in the batting and the bowling department. Their spin bowling group is multi-dimensional and really experienced. All three spinners Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir and Ravindra Jadeja have played plenty of international cricket and have a fair idea of how to bowl on abrasive surfaces.

Also, most of the CSK batsmen are good players of slow bowling as 5 out of top 7 are Indians and they have encountered dusty pitches right through their careers. KKR’s batting, on the other hand, depends heavily on the two overseas power hitters at the top, Chris Lynn, and Sunil Narine, who might just be found wanting against the spinners on a surface which lacks pace.

One positive for KKR is that they also have a good spin attack. Kuldeep Yadav has grown leaps and bounds as an international spinner over the past one year or so, while Piyush Chawla is a wily customer as well now and has got quite a few legs spinning variations in his repertoire. One must not forget an ever bankable Sunil Narine either, who is also there as the third spin option for the skipper Dinesh Karthik.