Search for consistency continues as flawed CSK and Rajasthan Royals face off
Their contest could tell us if one of them could enjoy a dark-horse run deep into the IPL
Karthik Krishnaswamy
18-Apr-2021
Big picture
The Rajasthan Royals and the Chennai Super Kings finished IPL 2020 in the bottom two places, and while there have been indications to suggest this season might be different, both remain flawed teams.
The Super Kings bat deeper than possibly any other team in the competition, but none of their batters belong among the elite rung of T20 hitters, unless they were somehow able to turn back time. Their bowling is similar: a large array of useful options, but little in the way of raw pace or - unless Imran Tahir plays - genuine wicket-taking threat in the middle overs.
The Royals possess top-drawer T20 stars in Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson and Chris Morris, but quality is otherwise spread thin across their squad, particularly with Ben Stokes out for the season and Jofra Archer's participation in doubt.
These drawbacks, however, can recede from view if form, conditions and luck align over the course of a season. There's enough ability and nous within the Super Kings and Royals squads to be able to capitalise on such a turn of events. Their meeting on Monday, therefore, might give us an early indication as to whether one of them could go on to enjoy a dark-horse run deep into the tournament.
In the news
Lungi Ngidi has completed his quarantine following a late arrival in India - the South Africa quick was on national duty, playing an ODI series against Pakistan - and has joined his Super Kings team-mates in training. He will be available for selection, giving the Super Kings an attacking pace option to replace Dwayne Bravo's changes of pace if they feel the conditions demand it.
Likely XIs
Chennai Super Kings: 1 Ruturaj Gaikwad/Robin Uthappa, 2 Faf du Plessis, 3 Moeen Ali, 4 Suresh Raina, 5 Ambati Rayudu, 6 Sam Curran, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 9 Dwayne Bravo/Lungi Ngidi, 10 Shardul Thakur, 11 Deepak Chahar.
Rajasthan Royals: 1 Jos Buttler, 2 Manan Vohra, 3 Sanju Samson (capt & wk), 4 Shivam Dube, 5 David Miller, 6 Riyan Parag, 7 Rahul Tewatia, 8 Chris Morris, 9 Jaydev Unadkat/Shreyas Gopal, 10 Chetan Sakariya, 11 Mustafizur Rahman.
Strategy punt
Stats that matter
Karthik Krishnaswamy is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo