Meeting again after the inaugral match of IPL 2011, Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders are tied at 12 points and are joint second although KKR is on on top in Points Table on the basis of Net Run Rate having played 1 more match than 2010 champions Super Kings. CSK are considered poor traveller, but KKR has been not so impressive at home. If first match between these teams can be taken as example and KKR controls its nerve, CSK may find the going tough at Eden Gardens.
CSK vs KKR: Srinivasan – The Admin vs Shahrukh Khan – The Entertainer
Kolkata Knight Riders: The Most Unsuccessful Team Seeks Glory
Chennai Super Kings: The Most Successful IPL Team
History
CSK holds a major edge over KKR. CSK have won 4 matches and lost only one match against KKR. One match was abandoned. Even in 2011 CSK snatched victory from KKR’s hand in a close match.
Head-to-Head: CSK 5, KKR 1
2008
- CSK def KKR by 9 Wickets
CSK def KKR by 3 Runs
2009
- CSK v KKR NR
KKR def CSK by 7 Wickets
2010
- CSK def KKR by 55 Runs
CSK def KKR by 9 Wickets
2011
- CSK def KKR by 2 runs.
2011 Performances
The Knights lost the first match again Chennai Super Kings, which they should have won, while won the close match against Deccan Chargers at home. Playing back-to-back matches against Rajasthan Royals, they first won the away match chasing a record total, and then ridiculed the Royals batsmen in the Home game. But, against Kochi Tuskers their batsmen could not even chase a target of 132. In the last match, ex-Kinght Gayle-force marooned KKR with a century. In Kotla, Gambhir’s bowlers managed to defeat Delhi Daredevils in low scoring match. In the last match, Gambhir’s men swallowed the strong Kings XI team. Their match against DC resulted in another confident victory in Hyderabad. But, against Kochi Tuskers they succumbed again.
Chennai Super Kings had a balanced and composed tournament so far with 2 victories and 1 loss. The teams looks formiddable, although batting is ruled by Indians till now, except one performance from Hussey. They have snatched victory from the mouth of defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders in firtst match. Kings XI surprised them with the Valthaty hammer, whereas against Royal Chalengers, the comfortable victory brought calm and composed look back on team member’s face. They were the last victim of Tuskers wonderful campaign and lost comfortably in the rain-curtailed match. Later they also lost to the Group Champion Mumbai Indians, and comfortably won the first match against Pune Warriors, defending a low total. The back-to-back match against Pune Warriors saw CSK making a clinical chase of small total. Then, at home they registered easy victory over clueless Chargers. Against Rajasthan Royals at home, they registered emphatic victory.
Player’s Performances
KKR player’s performance index shows Kallis, Gambhir and Tiwary in tremendous form. Pathan and Morgan are also in 100-club. Their bowlers are in tremendous form taking 51 wickets in 10 matches.
For Chennai, player’s performance index shows Hussey in 300-club while Raina has jumped to second position joining Badrinath and Murali Vijay in 200-club, while Dhoni has scored 158 runs. Bollinger and Morkel are performing their best. Bowlers have managed to take 47 wickets in 9 matches.
Who Will Win!!
Considering the home advantage, and poor away record of CSK, KKR has a good chance although just to win against the defending champions, more than talent they must tell themselves they can finally defeat Super Kings again.
Key Battles
Dhoni Vs Gambhir
Dhoni is the best captain around the globe, for now. Gambhir is talked about as the best future option. Dhoni is cool, Gambhir is aggressive. Dhoni can kill with eye movement and evoke confidence with his talks. Gambhir is knonw for aggression. He has been even fined and banned for over-aggression. But, he still talks a lot, now with the bat. His World Cup final innings will be remembered for that. Both have overall not contribued much in IPL. Dhoni has played few good innings, but Gambhir cannot claim even that much. Yet it is the captaincy for which both will be eyed on.
Kallis/Gambhir/Manoj Tiwary vs CSK bowlers
The three successful batsmen of KKR may find it easy to tame the Tusker bowlers, who are anyways not successful so far. Yet, CSK bowlers are in great form. They have decimated almost all opponents on their way. Bollinger and Morkel have been very effective towards the end, while the spin trio of Ashwin, Jakati and Randiv have not let the opponents run loose during middle overs.
Yusuf Pathan vs Raina
Raina is the highest run scorer of IPL. Yusuf Pathan is known as the most devastating player of IPL. Both can bowl too. Both have been picking the form with every passing match. Opponents know their wicket matter the most. One of them will turn the table today. At home can it be Pathan again for KKR, or will it be the now in-form Raina!! The contest will decide the match.
Kolkata Knight Riders Squad
Batsman: Gautam Gambhir (Captain), Mark Boucher (WK), Eoin Morgan, Manvinder Bisla, Shreevats Goswami, Laxmi Shukla, Manoj Tiwary,
Allrounder: Jacques Kallis, Ryan ten Doeschate, Shakib Al Hasan, Yusuf Pathan,
Bowlers: Brett Lee, James Pattinson, Pradeep Sangwan, Jaidev Unadkat, Shami Ahmed, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Rajat Bhatia, Sarabjit Ladda, Iqbal Abdulla
CSK Squad
Batsmen: Dhoni (Captain), Faf du Plessis, Michael Hussey, Srikkanth Anirudha, Subramaniam Badrinath, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), Murali Vijay
Allrounders: Dwayne Bravo, Albie Morkel, Scott Styris, Suresh Raina, Yo Mahesh
Bowlers: Tim Southee, Doug Bollinger, Ben Hilfenhaus, Suraj Randiv, Nuwan Kulasekara, George Bailey, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shadab Jakati, Joginder Sharma, Abhinav Mukund, Sudeep Tyagi, Kuthethurshri Vasudevadas, Ganapathi Vignesh
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