Today's match of IPL 2020 CSK vs KKR in Dubai: Kolkata Eye Final Flourish
IPL 2020 Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Latest Updates IPL 2020 Live Score: Four and Out! Rinku Singh covered Jadeja, but fired the ball from one edge the next.
As the race for the last playoffs berth is heating up, one team -- Chennai Super Kings, would be pretty relaxed entering into the match against two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday, in Dubai. After a horrific campaign, CSK are already out of the tournament and would just play to salvage pride. On the other hand Kolkata -- with just two matches left, are on 12 points and are on fifth spot in the points table just behind Punjab, and would like to win big here.
Chennai, in their last match registered a thumping wight-wicket victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore and youngsters like Deepak Chahar and Ruturaj Gaikwad came to the fore. Their investment in the youngsters finally paid off and they would like to continue with their form, that they have gotten into, only in the later stages of the tournament. They are a side capable of spoiling the campaign for Kolkata, who are struggling with their own issues galore.
Batting has been his biggest struggle, while bowlers too have shown only in patches. While Shubman Gill has scored runs, his strike rate has been questionable. The likes of Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan and Dinesh Karthik have also been inconsistent. Any one of these three have to bear the responsibility.
Speaking of bowling, Varun Chakravarthy has been rewarded for his brilliant performance in the tournament, and been named in the T20I squad for Australia tour. He will be expected to deliver the goods in the middle overs. As for Pat Cummins, as the spearhead of the pack, a lot is still left to be desired.
He needs to pick up wickets up front to put pressure on the opposition. The situation for both the teams is somewhat similar, where senior pros have failed to impress, and the battle will most likely be won from the side whose youngsters perform better on the day.
The batting showed some spark with the young Ruturaj Gaikwad coming up with an enterprising knock and skipper Dhoni will be hoping he keeps the good form going.
For Chennai Super Kings, any win would be welcome as they endured a forgettable season which is just about to wind down.
England's World Cup winning captain Morgan will be expected to lead from the front but will ask for a collective performance. A lot is at stake for the Knights and they will settle for nothing less than a big win.
We are halfway through the innings and Kolkata need to get a move on soon. Rana has done well to last but him and Rinku Singh need to up the ante.
The 100 comes up for Kolkata and Nitish Rana holds the key for Kolkata. He is eyeing one big over.
KKR 125/3 after 16 overs: Nitish Rana takes Karn Sharma to the cleaners as he whacks the leggie for three hat-trick of sixes and that has been an absolute carnage. 19 runs from the over.
