The two returning franchises face off each other for the first time this IPL season and for the ageless cricket romantics, this would be a clash that would spring up some very fond memories.
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Two teams that have traditionally been different in their approach to the IPL, as CSK have depended heavily on an Indian core, players that have are almost first choice picks in the Indian team.
Rajasthan on the other hand have been the ‘Moneyball’ team of the IPL. They have largely depended on one key talismanic foreign player(Shane Warne, Shane Watson etc) and a bunch of domestic stars who are on the fringes of making it to the Indian team. RR has in fact a lot of these domestic players get an India call up and has helped unearth some brilliant talent for our national team.
But for IPL 2018, both have undergone a slight change in strategy as CSK have stuck to their core, despite two of those players not being regulars in the Indian limited overs side.
Rajasthan have left their ‘moneyball’ approach and have recruited two of the most expensive players in IPL 2018(Stokes and Unadkat).
So, while the clash does bring in some nostalgia, the team’s have change their approach to the game in a big way.
Let’s get to business now!
IPL Fantasy League(Fantasy Tips for CSK vs RR)
Transfer out: Rashid Khan, Nitish Rana
Transfer in: Shane Watson, Shabaz Nadeem/Dummy Uncapped bowler
I’d look to start this section by apologising to any and everyone who did not pick Gayle as I hadn’t mentioned him in my team yesterday.
Yes, I had a logic and a sound argument for making that choice, but legends defy logic, which is probably why they are what they are.
For us lesser mortals though, it is important to preach and follow what we believe in and so while life may throw in a few surprises, stick to what you believe in.
More on Chris Gayle when KXIP feature next.
Now, I already have Ben Stokes and Rahul Tripathi in my side for this game.
Shane Watson has been brilliant for CSK this season, opening the bowling, bowling during the middle overs and at the death, followed by his exploits at the top of the order with the bat.
Overlooking his all round skills would be a blasphemy here, as he has taken 5 wickets and scored 69 runs in 3 matches.
Now, do you get in Suresh Raina? He has looked off colour as of now and hasn’t really been timing the ball that well. Also, with so many bowling options at Dhoni’s disposal, Raina wouldn’t really be used as a bowling option. Thus, I leave him out. Wait for him to get his touch back before you even think about drafting him in.
Dwayne Bravo would be the other overseas star that I would look at for this game, primarily because of his death bowling skills, however, he has been a little off-colour this season, having picked up a solitary wicket in 3 games.
But, if you still believe in Bravo’s ability and genuinely feel that he will ‘run the world’ tonight, get him in only if CSK bowl first.
I won’t be making any other transfers for this game.
Sanju Samson is a notable exclusion, but I did not bring him in in the last RR game(which was two days ago) and had essentially already made my RR team for this game too. Due to the paucity of transfers and that RR don’t play until Sunday night, I leave Samson out.
If you do have more than 50 transfers in the bag, I suggest you get him in, just to cover your bases.
Now, as I get in Watson my team has 5 all-rounders and thus i will have to give up on Nitish Rana(I’ll get him in tomorrow though).
Now, I need to get a bowler into my side as the team combination demands that and freakishly, the IPL Fantasy authorities have labelled all possible bowling options for this and the next game as all rounders.
Anyone who has ever held a bat and managed a 10+ score in any format has been labelled as an all-rounder. Come on, IPL authorities, you can do better.
Thus, in order to get my XI complete for this game, I can either bring in a dummy bowler or get in Shahbaz Nadeem from tomorrow night’s DD fixture.
Match Powerplayer: Shane Watson/Ben Stokes(whoever bats first)
2nd innings powerplayer: Shane Watson/Ben Stokes
Fandromeda(Fantasy Tips for CSK vs RR)
Transfer out: Andre Russell
Transfer in: Shane Watson
Now, I already have Ben Stokes and Sanju Samson in my side for this game.
Shane Watson is the only player really worth bringing in for this game, reasons for which are already mentioned in the IPL Fantasy League section above.
However, the Fandromeda team combination has been calling for my life and I can’t really get him in without transferring out either Russell or Narine, both of whom play a game tomorrow.
Now, as Fandromeda does provide me with a free transfer, I will not be giving it away and thus would transfer out Russell to bring in Watson. Russell did not bowl a single over in the last KKR game, owing to a recurring hamstring concern and has a slight possibility of missing out on the KKR XI.
Again, if you want to bring in one from Bravo and Watson, get in Bravo only if CSK bowl first.
I won’t be making any more changes to my team for this game.
Batting Powerplayer: Shane Watson
Bowling Powerplayer: Watson/Stokes(whoever bowls first)
