Indian Premier League, 2019 | Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab, 18th Match | CSK vs KXIP Who Will Win
Its time for the weekends which means it is time for a doubleheader. The first match of the day will see the defending champions Chennai Super Kings squaring off against Kings XI Punjab, followed by a riveting encounter between the current table toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad and eyeing an entry into the top four this season, Mumbai Indians.
Chennai Super Kings
After a hat-trick of wins, the winning run of Super Kings was finally halted by Mumbai Indians at Wankhede who tamed CSK by 37 runs to register their second win of the season. CSK were holding the top position until the defeat but now they have slumped down to the third position on the points table.
Despite the loss, they still look a confident unit and skipper MS Dhoni knows what to do from here. Their next challengers in Kings XI Punjab are also a regressive unit who are currently at the second spot on the points table with 3 wins from 4 games.
The history suggests that CSK have had the upper hand over Kings XI and with the match scheduled to take place at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, CSK are clearly the favorites to start in this encounter.
Kings XI Punjab
Kings XI Punjab have definitely changed their fortunes after a loss to KKr in their second encounter of the season at the Eden Gardens at Kolkata. Their last win over DC was definitely a confidence booster as they rose from the ashes to decimate their opponents.
At one stage, Delhi Capitals were cruising with 144 for the loss of 3 wickets, but what took place in the next 20 minutes or so was nothing less than a miracle. Once Mohammad Shami removed Rishabh Pant it was all Punjab who claimed the next 7 wickets for just 8 runs and eventually won the contest by 14 runs.
Skipper Ravichandran Ashwin knows MA Chidambaram’s surface better than anyone as he has been playing all his cricket right from the start at this stadium. He definitely knows the way this surface behaves and will look to march with his troops with some sort of advantage on his back.
Total Played: 20
CSK Won- 12
KXIP Won- 08
The temperature would be soaring at this time of the year in Chennai which means, the pitch will be dry and slow. The ball won’t be coming on the bat nicely and the batsmen will have to make adjustments to play their shorts. Once again the pitch is expected to remain slow as it has been in the last two games of CSK.
Average 1st inn score in IPL: 165
Average 2nd inn score in IPL: 151
Venue:- MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Match Timing:- Saturday, April 06, 2019, 04:00 PM IST
Chennai Super Kings
Kings XI Punjab
Chennai
IN: Faf du Plessis, Scott Kuggeleijn, Harbhajan Singh
OUT: Shardul Thakur, Dwayne Bravo, Mohit Sharma
Punjab
IN: AJ Tye, Chris Gayle
OUT: Mujeeb, Hardus Viljoen
Here’s how both teams line-up:-
Chennai Super Kings
Imran Tahir, Scott Kuggeleijn, Faf du Plessis, Deepak Chahar, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, Ambati Rayudu, Shane Watson, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh
Kings XI Punjab
David Miller, Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Mandeep Singh, R Ashwin, M Ashwin, Sam Curran, Mohd Shami, Chris Gayle.
Players to watch out from KXIP:
KL Rahul has got a fifty to his name from 4 innings, Mayank Agarwal has been the most consistent performer in the batting line-up with two scores o above 40 and a fifty to his name. David Miller is another safe bet in the batting line-up who is getting those 30, 35 in all his innings.
Sam Curran is freshof a brilliant hat-trick from the last game, while the likes of R Ashwin, Mujeeb and Mohammad Shami will be the bowling picks from this set-up.
Players to watch out from Chennai Super Kings:
The form of the openers is a bit of concern for CSK as both the openers are unable to give the perfect start required. Suresh Raina has looked good in bits and pieces so has Kedar Jadhav. Skipper MS Dhoni could be a good option as well in the batting unit.
In the all-rounders department, Dwayne Bravo is suffering from a hamstring which means he is not in contention to play here. The pace duo of Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar have been good whereas the Imran Tahir who has got 8 wickets so far in the competition will be their prime bowler.
Disclaimer:- This CSK vs KXIP Dream11 prediction is based on our research from various sources, We advise you not to make Dream11 Team as per your discretion and understanding from the squad and playing 11 listed in the article.