The sixth-placed Chennai Super Kings will take on struggling Kolkata Knight Riders at Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Wednesday in a bid to move up in the table. Chennai Super Kings are on the back of a victory whereas Kolkata Knight Riders have lost their previous game against Delhi Capitals.
Chennai Super Kings were struggling to put up a strong performance and were criticized a lot by the pundits and fans. However, they have proved their doubters wrong with a comfortable victory against Kings XI Punjab in their previous game. They will look to keep the momentum against KKR too on Wednesday.
Abu Dhabi playing host to the battle of the Dens! 🦁💛 #WhistlePodu #WhistleFromHome #Yellove #KKRvCSK pic.twitter.com/ZcmRKoODCv
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) October 7, 2020
Kolkata Knight Riders have the players of stature like Eoin Morgan, Shubhman Gill and Andre Russell who can derail Chennai’s plans. The team has to get its team selection right if they are to register a victory and move up the table.
If Chennai Super Kings are to continue their winning run, here are the top three picks for them against Kolkata Knight Riders at Sheikh Zayed Stadium:
#1) Shane Watson
In their previous match against Kings XI Punjab, Shane Watson proved why he is still regarded as one of the dangerous players across the globe. Chennai Super Kings’ batting unit was misfiring and was unable to provide the required foundation at the top. However, after much chopping, Shane Watson opened with Faf du Plessis. And this yielded results to CSK on Sunday.
Chasing a daunting target of 179 at Dubai International Stadium, Shane Watson scored unbeaten 83 out of 53 deliveries. The innings included 11 fours and three sixes. With finding his feet in the league, Shane Watson will be one of the top three picks for Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday.
#2) Dwayne Bravo
Chennai Super Kings struggled a lot in the absence of the Caribbean all-rounder who was out due to injury. However, with his return to the side, CSK has started to put up a tough fight in the league. Not only Bravo is an able bowler but also a big-hitter at the end of the innings. Though he hasn’t batted in the ongoing edition, his bowling has helped CSK to gain their lost territory.
Though he is yet to pick the wickets in IPL 2020, it is his economy rate, below 8.5, that has stopped the run flow on the surface. Lungi Ngidi was leaking runs and Sam Curran was running out of partners. With DJ Bravo coming in, he has found an able partner who can share the duties in the death overs. KKR must vary Bravo as he will be one of the top three picks for Chennai Super Kings.
#3) Faf du Plessis
The Protean international is the only consistent player for Chennai Super Kings throughout the 2020 campaign. His numbers are astonishing and has 282 runs in five games. He is also in the race to the orange cap and is currently in the second position, behind KL Rahul. Against KKR, he has the chance to take over the Indian wicket-keeper batsman at Dubai International Stadium and clinch the Orange Cap.
Against the Punjab side, Faf du Plessis was at his ruthless best. He played one of the finest knocks in the tournament. He scored an unbeaten 87 of 53 deliveries which included 11 boundaries and one six. The player will aim to repeat the same performance against struggling Kolkata Knight Riders.
