KKR vs CSK – The twenty-first match of the IPL 2020 tournament between the teams, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, could all be about match-ups. We take a look at a key game plan that could play a role in the twenty-first game of the IPL – KKR vs CSK KKR vs CSK […]
KKR vs CSK – The twenty-first match of the IPL 2020 tournament between the teams, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, could all be about match-ups. We take a look at a key game plan that could play a role in the twenty-first game of the IPL – KKR vs CSK
It might not seem on paper, but three-time champions Chennai Super Kings have a more than decent death bowling lineup this season. Their bowlers have an economy of 10.05 in overs 17-20 this season, which is the second-best among all teams. They have conceded 18.27 runs per dismissal and also conceded the fewest 6s in the last 4 overs of the innings; 6 sixes in 5 games so far, with 4 of them coming in a single over by Jofra Archer off Lungi Ngidi.
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The quartet of Deepak Chahar, Sam Curran, Dwayne Bravo, and Shardul Thakur might not inspire much confidence on face value, but they have so far done a tremendous job by pulling things back after mediocre performances in middle overs. But do they have it in them to negate the Russell factor?
In the three games Russell has come out to bat this season, he has been troubled by express pace. Bowlers like Rabada and Bumrah, whose overs their captains particularly save to attack Russell, have got the better of Russell with their pace. CSK do not have a bowler with express pace to trouble Russell. They rather depend on landing the ball in proper areas with added variations like knuckle balls and cutters.
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None of the current crop of CSK pacers has dismissed Russell since 2017. With the KKR all-rounder going berserk after Bravo and Shardul, implying the slower variations are certainly not effective against Russell. Just like Narine with the ball, if there is a game which can bring back Russell’s form with the bat, it has to be this game. All KKR need to do is hold back Russell for the spinners to complete their quota and unleash him against the pacers with a license to go after every ball.
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For CSK, they need to stick to their line and length, avoid bowling length balls on the middle and leg stump. The margin for error is very low against someone like Russell and hence the CSK pacers need to be spot on with their yorkers and direct their bouncers well.
