Can CSK Win Their Matches Against RR and SRH This Week?
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be kicking themselves for losing their last game against the Mumbai Indians. CSK should have won the game easily, but great innings by Kieron Pollard and some slopping play by CSK cost them the game. However, CSK are still in a good position as they sit in second place on the IPL points table.
CSK are tied on 10 points along with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), but CSK has a superior net run rate and takes the number two spot. CSK will be keen to bounce back after that tough loss to Mumbai and should be able to do so as they have two games this week that they should be able to win.
CSK vs. RR on May 5
CSK will play the Rajasthan Royals on May 5 in Delhi and go in as the betting favorites. While CSK are ranked second on the points table, the Royals are in 5th place having played 7 games, losing 4, and winning 3. On paper, this looks like it should be a walk in the park for CSK, especially if they play to potential. The odds of CSK winning are currently at 1.72, while the Royals are betting underdogs and have odds of 2.10.
The Royals will be a lot more confident going into their game against CSK as they are coming off a big win against SRH. Jos Butler played a match-winning innings in this game, scoring 124 of just 64 balls, and will be keen to continue that form against CSK. He received good support from captain Sanju Samson, and both of them will once again be the key players to watch out for.
MS Dhoni is the sort of character who will look to put their recent loss quickly behind them and approach the game against RR with a clean slate. However, CSK needs to learn from their mistakes against the Mumbai Indians. The key players to watch out for in this game are Faf du Plessis, Sam Curran, and R Jadeja.
We will have to wait and see if CSK decides to make a couple of changes to their bowling line-up as L Ngidi and S Thakur were very expensive. However, given CSK’s reluctance to change and experiment, we will probably see a similar side in play as MS Dhoni backs his playing XI to come good against RR.
We would have to favour CSK for this game, given their recent run of good form.
CSK vs. SRH on May 7
If CSK wins their game against RR on May 5, they could once again take over the number one spot on the points table. If they lose, they will be very eager to win their game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 7. This game also takes place in Delhi.
SRH are going through a terrible time in the IPL and are currently at the bottom of the points table with an unenviable record of playing 7 games and losing 6 of them. SRH made a very bold move when they decided to remove David Warner as captain and appoint Kane Williamson as the new captain.
Williamson captained SHR in the last game, but the result was the same – another loss. SRH removed Warner as captain and dropped him from the squad, which has made SRH look very weak in the batting department. If SRH decides not to play Warner against CSK, MS Dhoni will not mind one bit, as it certainly increases the chances for CSK to win.
CSK will once again go into this game as the betting favorite and should have a relatively easy game as SRH looks deflated. If CSK ends up winning their game against RR on May 5, they should think about testing their bench strength against SRH and make a couple of changes.
This will bode well for CSK as they prepare for the playoffs as they don’t want to bring in any new player who is short on game time during the playoffs. CSK should also think about getting Suresh Raina to bat at three as Raina has not had a great IPL batting in the middle-order.
Our experts are confident that CSK will be able to notch up their second win of the week against SRH and move close to qualifying for the playoffs. How will you place your IPL 2021 bets?
