The IPL 2020 is getting interesting every day as the teams have got adapted to the situations now. The real fight of the champions has begun as MI and CSK have returned to their winning habit.
CSK, which has just got rid of the last place in the point table, looks like they have switched to the next gear. Their top-order batting became sharp again, but still, the middle order needs to be tested. On the other end, KKR is pushed to the point where they need to use Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell. With both of these teams getting into a big clash, we are sure that it will be fascinating to witness the titans’ clash.
Without much ado, let’s get into predictions for the Match No.18 of IPL 2020: CSK vs KKR.
Prediction on the top run-scorer.
Faf Du Plessis is in an incredible form. His contribution to his Chennai side is making a massive difference for the yellow team. The opening slot has made Faf even more confident, and it provides him time to settle on the conditions. With Shane Watson has got back to his form, a significant burden on Faf’s shoulder has been taken down through the Australian’s last match innings. The partnership between Shane and Faf has got the josh now to ignite from the start. Above all, the intention to make quick runs during the power play is out there between the two. This eventually makes the more consistent Faf as a favorite for this clash against KKR once again. Faf, who is now a better player of spin bowling, will have all the shots to defend and attack the most potent spin attack from KKR.
Shubhman Gill from the KKR side has a point to prove now in this edition. With already made two specialist knocks for his team, Gill must be looking to make a strong statement against the mighty CSK. The best thing about Shubhman Gill is his shot selections. The way he can manufacture runs with the bowler’s stock deliveries makes him lethal with the new ball batting. With CSK lacking the steam in the spinners department, Shubhman Gill can be the best player for this condition to score more runs against CSK for KKR.
Prediction on top wicket-taker
The costliest buy of this season, Pat Cummins, is slowly getting back to his business of wicket-taking in this tournament. Throughout his career, Pat Cummins has been slammed to the ground several times, but what makes him such an exceptional human being is that he has retaliated every time with an enormous leap. His strong character would bring him on top of the wicket-takers list. Pat Cummins is currently at the 6th spot in the wicket-takers list of this IPL edition, with seven wickets so far in the 5 matches he played. As Shane Watson is going to open the innings of CSK, Pat Cummins, being an Australian, knew what to do to get him out in the early stage of his innings. At last, The speed of Pat Cummins might speak against the team in yellow.
Deepak Chahar is making the ball move more than other seam bowlers do with the new ball. The beauty lies within both the way swing bowling. KKR’s opening pinch hitter Sunil Narine needs to face this Indian fast bowler more carefully because Deepak Chahar is the apt bowler to make it so challenging for the West Indian mystery bowler.
Prediction on Who will win the match?
With their big win against KXIP, Chennai Super Kings is too good for KKR in the current scenario. The Chennai based franchise was waiting for the moment after they lost it in their second match. As they have the momentum right now, we can expect the yellow team’s unquenchable positivity in this match.
KKR, with their loss in the big run-scoring match in Sharjah, needs to look back at their strategies in bowling. Even with the bat, their top order needs more push. The middle-order big-hitters Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell are free from chasing the crept up run rate. It gives automatic pressure to their big hitters when they are asked to make 15 runs per over during the start of their innings. This needs to be taken- care of by the top order batters Shubhman Gill, Sunil Narine, Nitish Rana, and Dinesh Karthik. While Shubhman and Nitish are found to generate the run rate for KKR, the other two’s form, DK’s and Narine’s current form in the game is not working out well for the Kolkata based franchise. If these things are looked after well, KKR is directly into this competition, with their bowlers doing a pretty good job except that of their last match in Sharjah.
CSK again needs to keep their right eye on the bowling department, which leaks runs so easily. Most importantly, the fielding, which got better in the last match, needs to continue.
Prediction on the most six-hitting batter:
With his high handle grip and plenty of range hitting shots, Eoin Morgan puts himself right on top of this list. He can be the batter who can hit more sixes in an inning if the opponent team lets him settle. The flexible hip work of Eoin Morgan is too much suffice for making even the more challenging deliveries of the bowlers into the stands, which are covered with colorful banners in this edition.
Andre Russell, the monstrous hitter of the cricket ball, is not in good form to go more than one or two sixes in an innings so far. But one thing is sure. When he gets his middle right on the head of the ball, he will be like magic made in heaven. No one can stop him. Any delivery within his arc would touch the roofs of Abu Dhabi stadium.
Prediction on Man of the match
With so much improved bowling, Pat Cummins, when compared to KKR’s first match in this edition, would look to reap the fruit that would be more useful for the Kolkata-based franchise. Being a new bowler, he automatically grabs the opportunity to make the initial breakthroughs. And his death over bowling guarantees us to witness him scalping the middle-order batters of the opponent team. Furthermore, his pinch-hitting routine, along with Eoin Morgan, would be the best watch for any KKR fan. As he is also on a good form in batting, this hulky Australian might be the match-winner for this game.
To sum up
Eventually, CSK, with its impressive win over KXIP, made a strong statement that they are stepping into their next match as favorites. Meanwhile, KKR needs a lot of discipline in the batting department to make a tough fight against CSK.
