Reigning champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will aim to keep their playoffs hopes alive when they take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday, May 12.
CSK head into this game on the back of a 35-run loss against Gujarat Titans (GT), which has made their task of sealing a top spot slightly more difficult. With six wins in 12 games, the Men in Yellow perhaps do not have the luxury of losing either of their remaining two games if they want to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs.
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Meanwhile, things have been way better as far as RR as concerned. They have 16 points in 11 games, and will be assured of a playoffs spot with a win on Sunday afternoon. However, CSK might fancy their chances, given that Sanju Samson and Co. have lost their last two games on the bounce.
CSK vs RR: Pitch Report
The new ball bowlers at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium will have limited lateral movement on the surface. At this location, pacers — who can hit the deck hard and bowl cutters — may be useful, though.
Throughout the game, there will also be some assistance for the spin bowlers. Spinners have usually done well on this venue, choking the run flow in the middle overs. Therefore, it will be crucial for the opener on both sides to take advantage of the field limitations and quickly score some runs in the first six overs.
With the exception of the spinners, bowlers who trick the batsmen by slowing the speed and using variations usually do well here. Anything near 175-180 would be a par score on this pitch, given that the average first innings winning score is 174 in IPL in Chennai.
Also, the team that wins the toss usually chooses to bat first. Indeed, the team batting first at Chepauk has won 46 games out of 80 in the IPL.
CSK vs RR: Live Toss
RR have won the toss and they will bat first.
CSK vs RR: Confirmed Lineups
Chennai Super Kings Confirmed XI:
Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (WK), Shardul Thakur, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Simarjeet Singh.
Substitutes: Ajinkya Rahane, Sameer Rizvi, Prashant Solanki, Ajay Mandal, Mukesh Choudhary.
Rajasthan Royals Confirmed XI:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (C & WK), Riyan Parag, Shubham Dubey, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sandeep Sharma, Avesh Khan.
Substitutes: Rovman Powell, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Nandre Burger, Tanush Kotian, Keshav Maharaj.
CSK vs RR: Prediction
Both CSK and RR are coming into this game on the back of mixed results in their past few games. RR, for the record, won eight of their opening nine games, followed by consecutive losses which saw they lose their stranglehold of top spot to Kolkata Knight Riders. Meanwhile, CSK have won and lost alternate games in their past five fixtures, losing thrice and winning twice.
While both teams are yet to officially qualify for the playoffs – which means that their purpose behind winning this game is to inch closer to sealing a top four spot – they will have different goals. RR are gunning for a top two spot in order to get extra cushion in the playoffs, while CSK want to get away from the chasing pack and have authority over the third/fourth spot. That's not to say, though, that CSK can't finish in the top two.
Based on intuition, though, CSK will have their task cut out against a formidable opponent in RR. CSK haven't been foot perfect at their own ground this season, and RR have a pretty good away record in 2024.
CSK vs RR: Betting odds
According to odds on Dafabet, CSK are favourites to win the clash against RR.
| Team | Odds |
| Chennai Super Kings | 1.90 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 1.95 |
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