The top two in the Indian Premier League meet on Tuesday when the Chennai Super Kings host the Kolkata Knight Riders in a match which could give us our first indications of who the title favourites this term could be.
Both sides have four wins from their opening five matches in the competition and so whoever this will put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack in the race for a place in the postseason shake up.
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Chennai Super Kings
They might have won four of their first five games this term, but you would be fibbing if you suggested the Chennai Super Kings had looked convincing in all of them. They haven’t but they have held their nerve well and what they have done better than anyone this season is assess conditions and play them accordingly. With the way the pitches are in Chepauk, they might need to do that again here.
One recurring theme for the Super Kings at the minute is their middle order slowing down the run rate. It cost them their only defeat against the Mumbai Indians and had they not been able to feast on some indifferent death bowling against the Kings XI Punjab last time out they would have lost that match too. Their bowling is fine but they could still do with their batsmen pacing innings better.
Kolkata Knight Riders
I guess you could say that the Kolkata Knight Riders have ridden their luck a few times in their four wins too, but is it luck when Andre Russell wins a game from them that looks dead? He is so good as a finisher that maybe they have gone well to set it up for him as well as they have. I dare say they won’t want it to be as tight as it got in Bangalore two matches ago but at the same time, if they win I doubt they will really care.
Whether it has been Andre Russell, or the other batsmen in the line up, the Kolkata top six are all looking in warm order and their bowlers looked like they were coming to the party in Jaipur last time out too. That doesn’t surprise me. They always looked like an attack that was set up to flourish in the second half of the season when the squares become used and we saw shades of that against Rajasthan. Kolkata are looking decent enough.
Team News
Although they were not completely convincing in the previous match, it would still be a surprise if the Chennai Super Kings made any changes to their team for this one. Dwayne Bravo remains out injured and the number of left-handers in the Kolkata side should see Harbhajan Singh retain his place.
Kolkata Knight Riders made their change for their previous match when they brought Harry Gurney in to good effect. There is no need for them to make any changes so we should see them field the same starting XI.
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Betting
I like the Kolkata Knight Riders here. I think they match up pretty well to the Chennai Super Kings and unlike some teams this season I think they are also a good fit for this Chepauk wicket. We shouldn’t overlook the fact that there is a chance it will be a good wicket for batting but with Andre Russell in the opposition ranks we would have to say that is unlikely.
That shouldn’t inconvenience the Knight Riders too much as they have three high class spinners in their ranks and one of the best slower ball bowlers in the business so if pace off the ball is needed they certainly have that covered. They also have plenty of wristy batsmen who can work the ball on a slow pitch. With all bases covered it is the visitors for me.
Tips
Back Kolkata Knight Riders to beat Chennai Super Kings for a 4/10 stake at 1.95 with Boylesports
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