KKR VS CSK Match Preview: The Three-time champions take on the two-time champions in Mumbai
The Big Picture
KKR is going to play their first match in Mumbai tonight. The transition from the bowler-friendly pitch in Chennai to a batting paradise in Mumbai could be tricky for them. Both CSK and KKR have played three games each this year in which CSK has won 2 games out of the 3 whereas KKR has won only 1 game. CSK have won their last two matches whereas KKR has lost their last two matches. When it comes to the most recent form and ground familiarity CSK has an upper hand in this match as compared to KKR.
Head to Head
The overall Head to Head is also heavily in favour of CSK. CSK have won 15 out of the 23 matches played and KKR have managed to win only 8 games, 1 game had no result. The only positive for KKR in this match is that last year they won the first leg game versus CSK.
Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR started with a bang by defeating SRH in the first match by 10 runs. That was the only game in which they batted first; ideally, KKR would want to win the toss and set the target for CSK and put the pressure on CSK batsmen. Although, batting first could backfire them in Mumbai as it’s a batting-friendly pitch. The good thing for KKR is that their openers Rana & Gill have looked solid at the top, Rana has converted the starts in a couple of matches if Gill can join the party it would set a good platform for the players like R Tripathi, Morgan, A Russell to have a crack towards the end.
Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings this year is looking like the champions they are known to be in IPL. Their batting unit is clicking as a team, not a single CSK batsman is in the top 10 run-scorers of IPL 2021 yet they are third on the points table. Three games and we have three different top run-scorers for them, namely S Raina, M Ali & Faf du Plessis. CSK as a team is looking dangerous again this year. R Gaekwad might be replaced with C Pujara or Uthappa in today’s match.
Pitch Conditions and Toss
The Mumbai pitch is known to be batsman-friendly and hence this could be a high scoring match. CSK have won a match batting first and another bowling first it shouldn't matter to them much but KKR should bat first after winning the toss.
Probable Playing XI
Kolkata Knight Riders: E Morgan (C), N Rana, S Gill, R Tripathi, D Karthik (WK), S al Hassan, A Russell, P Cummins, H Singh/K Yadav, V Chakravarthy and P Krishna.
Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (C), R Gaekwad/ C Pujara/R Uthappa, Faf du Plessis, S Raina, A Rayudu, R Jadeja, S Curran, Moen Ali, S Thakur, D Bravo and D Chahar.
Match Details
Match No 15 Indian Premier League
Match: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings
Date & Time: 21st April 2021, Wednesday 7:30 PM IST
Pivotal Players
Kolkata Knight Riders: N Rana, S Gill and S al Hasan
Chennai Super Kings: Faf du Plessis, S Raina and R Jadeja
Clean Hitters
Kolkata Knight Riders: A Russell, E Morgan and D Karthik
Chennai Super Kings: R Jadeja, S Curran and MS Dhoni
Death Over Bowlers
Kolkata Knight Riders: P Cummins, P Krishna & A Russell
Chennai Super Kings: D Bravo & S Thakur
Most Runs in IPL 2021
Kolkata Knight Riders: N Rana (155) and R Triphati (83)
Chennai Super Kings: M Ali (108) and S Raina (80)
Top Wicket-Takers in IPL 2021
Kolkata Knight Riders: A Russell (6) and P Cummins (4)
Chennai Super Kings: D Chahar (4) and M Ali (4)
Player Suggestions:
KKR vs CSK Dream11 Wicketkeepers: D Karthik and MS Dhoni
KKR vs CSK Dream11 Batsmen: N Rana, S Gill, S Raina & Faf du Plessis
KKR vs CSK Dream11 All-Rounders: M Ali, R Jadeja
KKR vs CSK Dream11 Bowlers: P Cummins, P Krishna, D Chahar
KKR vs CSK Dream11 Captain Option: N Rana and M Ali
KKR vs CSK Dream11 Vice-Captain Option: S Gill and R Jadeja
Fantasy League Disclaimer
All our selections are based on in-depth and astute analysis of the players partaking in the match, pitch report and a perusal of other reasoning. Please incorporate a slew of factors while crafting your own side with this article serving as a guide to the match and players. Pictures used in this post are the courtesy of the respective official Instagram handles of teams and players and are for representational purposes