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

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.

IPL 2018, SRH vs DD: Hyderabad aim to extend winning run vs desperate Delhi

In the 42nd match of Vivo Indian Premier League (IPL 2018) Kane Williamson’s Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will take on Delhi Daredevils (DD) led by Shreyas Iyer at Ferozshah Kotla ground in New Delhi. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will look to extend their five-match winning streak when they face Delhi Daredevils, who are placed at the bottom of Vivo IPL points table, in IPL today’s match.

SRH have more or less assured themselves of a place in the playoff after winning eight of their 10 matches to pocket 16 points while Delhi's campaign has been lacklustre with just three wins from 10 outings. Out of the 11 times that these two teams have faced each other, Sunrisers Hyderabad hold an edge having won on seven occasions as compared to Delhi Daredevils' four victories. In their last meeting at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, the SRH romped home by 7 wickets as DD once again squandered a great start to lose the plot in the dying stages.

Delhi Daredevils’ woes in IPL 2018 has been compounded by an inconsistent opening partnership, despite teenager Prithvi Shaw going great guns blazing at the top. Besides Shaw, young skipper Shreyas Iyer and stumper Rishabh Pant form the backbone of DD's batting and would be hoping to put on another brave effort against the best bowling line-up in IPL 2018. It would also be interesting to see whether Delhi Daredevils still persists with Australian Glenn Maxwell, who had a torrid season so far. On the bowling front, New Zealander Trent Boult have led his resources well with the young Avesh Khan, Englishman Liam Plunkett and all-rounder Vijay Shankar while leg-spinner Amit Mishra have also been amongst the wickets.