IPL 2019 Match 20, Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

It’s clash between two of the three top teams at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, as Chennai Super Kings take on Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday, 9 April.

Both teams have been in sublime form. Kolkata are, at the time of writing, at the top of the table with a superior net run-rate, but both sides are level on eight points. The winner on Tuesday could hold a crucial advantage, especially as things heat up towards the business end in a couple of weeks.

Kolkata will feel good about themselves, heading into this match. Having relied heavily on Andre Russell to pull them out of the mire on a few occasions in IPL 2019, in their last match against Rajasthan Royals, they didn’t utilise him at all – not with the bat, not with the ball, and there wasn’t even a catch to Russell’s name. Kolkata showed they were more than a one-man army.

That’ll be important against Chennai. The IPL giants have so far put in team performances one after the other to secure their four wins. However, they will have to find a way past Russell to cement their spot at the top of the table.

Furthermore, there is the fact that Chennai have relied on their spinners at home – but Kolkata have a trio of excellent spinners too. Chennai will be wary of playing to Kolkata’s strengths.  

Head to head

Chennai and Kolkata have played 21 times over the years. Chennai hold the advantage, with 12 victories in those encounters to Kolkata’s eight. There was one no-result.

In 2018, both teams had one victory each, and both were in favour of the home team. Chennai won by five wickets, and Kolkata by six.

Key players

Imran Tahir (Chennai Super Kings):According to Cricviz, the only weakness – we’re scraping the bottom of the barrel here – that Andre Russell has is against leg-spin. That makes the role of Imran Tahir very crucial heading into Tuesday’s match. Dhoni might even save Tahir just for Russell.

Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders):Even from seemingly impossible positions, Russell has rescued Kolkata to comfortable victory. Bangalore may have a poor attack, but the fact that Russell did it against Hyderabad earlier in the season shows his feat is irrespective of quality of attack. Chennai will be wary.

Likely XIs

Chennai Super Kings:Faf du Plessis, Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (c/wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Scott Kuggeleijn, Deepak Chahar, Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir

Kolkata Knight Riders:Sunil Narine, Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill, Dinesh Karthik (c/wk), Andre Russell, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Harry Gurney, Prasidh Krishna

Prediction

It’s a hard one to call. But we’ll go with the home side – Chennai.