IPL 2018: CSK’s probable playing XI against KXIP at Pune

We bring to you CSK’s probable playing XI against KXIP at Pune which will be played on Sunday and is the 56th match of IPL 2018.

With 2 losses in their last 3 games, CSK have lost some track. While, there is nothing to worry for them as far as the league stage is concerned but going towards the knockout stages, they would have to sort some things out. Obviously, no team would want to go into the playoffs with the baggage of having met a defeat and that too against an under confident KXIP side.

KXIP, on the other hand, are going through tough times. They started their campaign exceedingly well, with 5 wins of their first 6 games. However, after a one week hiatus, they have won only 1 of their following 7 games.

In this match, CSK having already qualified for the playoffs have the leeway to try out a couple of players.

OPENERS

Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu has been a revelation for CSK this year. Although he has batted at different places, he has scored most of his runs at the top of the order. Only behind Kane Williamson, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, Rayudu is currently at the 4th spot in the contention of the Orange cap. He would try his best to regain the top spot in the batting charts.

Shane Watson

Watson has complemented Rayudu well at the top of the order and has pulled out some match winning knocks. With both openers in form, they would like to give CSK a quick start unlike the last match against DD.

Als Read: Watch unusual toss from Shreyas Iyer leaves Dhoni laughing

MIDDLE ORDER

Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina has been picking up and then subsiding frequently. After a fifty against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur, Raina has not clicked in his last two innings and has scored 15 and 2 resectively. However, he has already gone past the 300+ mark this season and will continue batting at No. 3 for CSK.

MS Dhoni

Coming off a rare failure against DD in the last game, MS Dhoni would come at No. 4 for CSK. He has been a much improved player this season and has the responsibility of finishing games for his side. As a leader, Dhoni would try to experiment in this match and try out various bowlers in different match situations.

LOWER MIDDLE ORDER

Faf du Plessis/ Sam Billings

After a 56-run knock against KKR in Chennai at the beginning of the season, Sam Billings is yet to significantly contribute with the bat. Keeping his string of failures in mind, Faf du Plessis may get a game ahead of the English cricketer. Billings’s strike rate has also been quite low and if CSK get off to a good start, the last thing they would want is to lose momentum in the middle overs.

Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja was widely criticized for his ordinary performances in the beginning of the season but has picked up as the tournament has moved forward. He bagged the man of the match against RCB and can very lethal if the pitch has anything to offer for the spinners.

SPINNERS

Imran Tahir

Yes, we are taking a big call and so might Dhoni. Dwayne Bravo has not clicked in the last few matches. His chief role in the side is of a death bowler but he has gone for plenty in the slog overs. He bats so late in the order that he hardly gets an opportunity to bat. Tahir is reportedly fit now and Mahi would like to try him out before the big playoff games.

Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh has been good for DD till now. This is the reason that he has become CSK’s first choice spinner. He may not have picked a lot of wickets but has contained the opposition batsmen well.

PACERS

Deepak Chahar

As soon as Deepak Chahar returned from his hamstring injury in the match against SRH, he had an impact on the match. In his first match after comeback, he ended with figures of 4-16-1 at an economy of 4.00 runs per over.

In the match against DD as well, he bowled economically giving away 23 runs and picking up one wicket.  Chahar is a very masterful swing bowler and has the potential to scalp the star KXIP openers KL Rahul and Chris Gayle.

Shardul Thakur

With figures of 1-27, 2-32, 1-22 and 0-19 in his last 4 matches, Shardul Thakur has been picking up as the season has gone forward. If he can improve his death bowling, Thakur can be an asset for CSK.

Lungi Ngidi

Lungi Ngidi has played well in the limited games that he has featured in. In the last match as well, he bowled with excellent figures of 2-14. Given that David Willey has not done well enough, Ngidi is expected to feature in all the remaining matches for CSK.