IPL 2020: RR vs CSK Match 4 Preview, and Predicted Playing 11

RR vs CSK IPL 2020: Rajasthan Royals debut against in-form CSK as we look at the Preview, predicted 11 and top fantasy picks. 

Match Details:

IPL 2020 – RR vs CSK Match Preview:

Chennai Super Kings started the IPL 2020 campaign on a positive by defeating the 4-times champion, Mumbai Indians by 5 wickets. Even without IPL 2019’s best bowler, Imran Tahir and their death overs bowler, Dwayne Bravo, MS Dhoni managed to inspire the team to an amazing win with shrewd tactics. Just goes on to show the strength of the team, and why they have been so consistent. 

CSK are now up against the underdogs of IPL 2020, Rajasthan Royals. For first, Royals would be without the current best all-rounder in World cricket, Ben Stokes for at-least the first half of IPL. While his IPL performance may have been underwhelming, his current form was electric, and would have been an important factor for RR.

RR finished fourth in IPL 2018, and then finished in the bottom half in 2019. They are one of the only two teams who are heavily reliant on their overseas players alongside Sunrisers Hyderabad. If these guys don’t fire, the chances of RR succeeding in their 2020 campaign looks bleak.

IPL 2020 RR vs CSK Predicted XIs: 

Rajasthan Royals are also one of the only two teams alongside KKR, who were sure of their 4 overseas players, but there are two major blows for them to start with. Jos Buttler would miss the opening game due to quarantine rules, and the absence of Ben Stokes means RR are short of a finisher all-rounder.

The like for like replacement for Stokes is Tom Curran, who can give you crucial 4 overs and some quick runs down the order. Absence of Buttler means Yashasvi Jaiswal and Robin Uthappa should mostly play in the first match as the openers. We could also see Sanju Samson opening with Uthappa playing at 3. 

IPL 2020 RR vs CSK – Rajasthan Royals Predicted 11:

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Robin Uthappa, Sanju Samson (WK), Steve Smith (C), David Miller, Riyan Parag, Tom Curran, Shreyas Gopal, Jofra Archer, Jaydev Unadkat, and Ankit Rajpoot.

The pictures shared by CSK of Ruturaj Gaikwad means he seems to fit, but unless CSK, who are known to back their players even after failures break that jinx, Murali Vijay should continue ahead of Ruturaj Gaikwad. So, we can expect Chennai to go with an unchanged for the Sharjah match.

IPL 2020 RR vs CSK – Chennai Super Kings Predicted 11:

Shane Watson, Murali Vijay / Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (C&WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Deepak Chahar, Piyush Chawla, and Lungi Ngidi. 

Top Fantasy Picks:

Batsmen: Shane Watson, Sanju Samson, and Steve Smith

Shane Watson had a poor start to begin with in the opening match of IPL 2020. But, we all are aware of Watson’s determination, and with him playing against the franchise he began his IPL career with, we can expect Shane Watson to perform well, and give you those valuable points. 

If not Robin Uthappa, we can see Sanju Samson as the opener for Rajasthan Royals in the first match alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. In any which case, Sanju Samson would be a good bet for your fantasy squad. With MS Dhoni retired, he is also in the contention of the wicket-keeping place, so the stakes would be higher for him. 

The captain of the squad, Steve Smith would play a crucial role if RR lose early wickets. He would play a good bridge between finishing and anchoring the innings. We all know what he is capable of, and on the low-scoring pitch, he would be a good selection. 

All-rounders: Tom Curran

Tom Curran would be coming-in in the squad as the replacement for Ben Stokes. While Stokes is a batting all-rounder, Tom Curran is a bowling all-rounder, and can give you 4 valuable overs on spicy pitch apart from the valuable hard-hitting down the order.  

Bowlers: Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, and Deepak Chahar. 

Jofra Archer is a no brainer selection for any squad. He is a wicket-taker, and there are more points for wicket-taking than economy rate. While he can bowl anywhere in the match, he would be RR’s solution to death overs, and expect RR to make him bowl at least 2 overs in the death overs.

Shreyas Gopal had a fantastic IPL 2019 emerging as the second-best spinner of the tournament. While the pitch may assist pace bowling as we have seen in the first few matches, the fact that CSK have mostly right-handers makes Gopal’s selection inevitable.

Deepak Chahar looked out of rhythm in the first couple of overs, but the way he bounced back meant he is back to his original self. He would once again be crucial for CSK at the start, and in the death overs; thus being the wicket-taking bowler for CSK.  

Captain & Vice-Captain Pick: Shane Watson and Jofra Archer

Thanks for reading! Who do you think would win between RR and CSK? Please, share your thoughts on business@cricalytics.com

ALSO READ: IPL 2020 UAE: Top 5 Most Consistent Batsmen in the history of IPL

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Adesh Kothari

Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.

Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.

Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.