Friday, 11 May 2018

IPL 2018, CSK vs RR: Rajasthan to face mighty Chennai in must-win tie today

Chennai Super Kings player Shane Watson (R) shares a light moment with coach Stephen Fleming during a practice session ahead of their IPL T20 match against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur. Photo: PTI

In the 43rd match of Vivo Indian Premier League (IPL 2018) Ajinkya Rahane-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) will take on Chennai Super Kings led by MS Dhoni at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Back to winning ways after a hat-trick of defeats, a desperate Rajasthan Royals will face a herculean task when they take on mighty Chennai Super Kings in a must-win game in IPL today’s match. The RR outfit didn't have the best of campaigns so far in IPL 2018 and are placed sixth with just eight points from 10 games in Vivo IPL points table.

Three consecutive defeats have more or less sealed their fate but Rajasthan Royals somehow managed to keep themselves afloat with a 15-run win over Kings XI Punjab in their previous game. But for things to turn around for the Rajasthan Royals, every aspect of their game needs to improve and click for them in the remaining four games. Today’s IPL match would also provide Rajasthan Royals a chance to avenge their 64-run loss to CSK at Pune in their previous encounter. Standing precariously, the Ajinkya Rahane-led side need to win today’s IPL match to keep alive their play-off chances. A defeat will definitely end their hopes. The hosts are back on their home turf, Jaipur, where they have recorded three of their four victories and this might work for Rajasthan Royals going into today’s crucial game. RR were badly hurt by the lackluster performance of their batsmen and bowlers in IPL 2018. Average performance by captain Rahane and Sanju Samson and below-par show of star English all-rounder Ben Stokes and Rahul Tripathi has hurt Royals badly and the hosts need its batting unit to fire in unison against the formidable Chennai Super Kings. English wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler came to Rajsthan Royals' rescue in the previous match smashing a 58-ball 82 to take the hosts to 158 for eight, a target which their bowlers defended, thanks to impressive performances from Krishnappa Gowtham, Kiwi spinner Ish Sodhi and Jofra Archer.

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