The 61st match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 pits Chennai Super Kings (CSK) against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 12 at 3:30 PM IST.
Both teams come into this match needing a win for varied reasons.
RR, currently in second place with eight wins from eleven matches, have suffered two consecutive defeats. A victory will solidify their position in the top two of the league table. Conversely, CSK, placed fourth with six wins from twelve matches, are coming off a loss against Gujarat Titans (GT).
The defending champions’ bowling attack, missing key pacers Matheesha Pathirana, Deepak Chahar, and Mustafizur Rahman, struggled against GT’s openers. While they did manage to restrict the flow of runs in the death overs, the absence of their pace trio creates a vulnerability that Rajasthan’s in-form top order, consisting of Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Riyan Parag, could exploit. Tushar Deshpande, with his two wickets for 33 runs against Gujarat, was the lone bright spark in the CSK bowling attack, showcasing excellent control during the death overs.
CSK’s batting woes continued in the previous match, with Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane failing to deliver once again. While captain Ruturaj Gaikwad had a disappointing outing against GT, his overall form with 541 runs remains a bright spot. However, with the playoff race tightening, CSK need immediate solutions. The visitors will be looking to exploit the home team’s weakness, particularly with Trent Boult, aiming for early breakthroughs in the powerplay.
Head-to-Head:
Historically, Chennai has dominated the head-to-head record against Rajasthan, winning 15 out of 28 encounters.
However, the trend has shifted recently. Since 2020, RR have emerged victorious in six out of the seven matches played against CSK.
Where-to-Watch:
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