Pune: Their batsmen are in top form but Chennai Super Kings (CSK) would look to plug the bowling loopholes when they take on a struggling Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a key IPL-XI match between the southern rivals here, Saturday.
The Virat Kohli-led RCB, who edged out Mumbai Indians by 14 runs in their last game, will be eager to avenge their five-wicket defeat at home against the MS Dhoni-led Super Kings, who too will be keen to swiftly get back into the winning mode after suffering two defeats in their last three games.
For the star-studded RCB, the clash is a must-win encounter if they have to stay alive in the tournament and qualify for the play-offs. While RCB are in the fifth spot, having won three of their eight matches, CSK are still in a comfortable position in second position with six wins from nine games.
The yellow brigade seems to have settled down well in its adopted home and has lost only to the Mumbai Indians here after shifting base after their first game in Chennai.
But that comprehensive eight-wicket defeat against MI followed by the six-wicket hammering by the Kolkata Knight Riders has shown chinks in the CSK armour, especially in bowling.
The Chennai batsmen are on song and most are among runs with Ambati Rayudu, Australian Shane Watson, West Indian Dwayne Bravo, skipper Dhoni and Suresh Raina contributing when the team needed. Rayudu, especially, has batted well both as an opener and at number four, scoring 391 runs so far.
If CSK decide to continue with South African Faf Du Plessis and Watson at the top, then Rayadu will again bat down the order. Dhoni has reminded his critics that he is not past his prime and if he hits those towering sixes again Saturday, it will pose a danger to the RCB attack.
Chennai bowlers had been generally impressive with Shardul Thakur at the top. But in their defeats against MI and even Thursday (against KKR), the bowling attack could not defend the scores put up by their batters and appears to be missing the services of injured Deepak Chahar.
RCB too have some batting woes to overcome with only Kohli performing consistently, amassing 449 runs in nine matches. They will be eager to put South African batsman AB de Villiers, who has scored 280 runs in six games, back on the field. These two batsmen are crucial to RCB’s hopes. They also require Quinton de Kock and Brendon McCullum, who are yet to play to their potential, to chip in.
RCB’s primary headache has been their death bowling as they have leaked runs in this phase. Umesh Yadav (11 wickets) and Yuzvendra Chahal (seven) have stamped their class, but Mohammad Siraj and Washington Sunder have performed below par.
