Chennai: Rajasthan Royals' inform openers -- Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal have had it easy up until now considering the flat-ish nature of Guwahati pitches. However, they will be up against the spin web of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on a pitch that grips, holds, and turns, meaning the bowlers won't be just sitting ducks here at the Chepauk pitch.
Purely going by the numbers is a testament to how unleashing they both have been, not only in terms of runs that they have garnered but blasting opponents through a sky-rocketing strike-rate. The England captain and youngster Jaiswal have two half-centuries to their name thus far, coming at 180.95 and 164.47 respectively and that has been enough to turn the tides in Rajasthan's favor early on.
Although, what is to be considered here are also the venues where the games were played. The two games of the three were played in Guwahati, one of the flattest deck in the country while the third game that Rajasthan Royals played was in Hyderabad -- a strip that heavily supports batters, where runs flows at batter's own volition.
The change in the venue at Chennai will certainly be a different world altogether where toss could be an underlying factor as chasing anything more than 180 requires the performance of the highest order. And the obstacles to overcome would be Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner, who will take up 10-12 overs of the match and they have it in them what it takes to choke the opposition. These three are not only threatening as the numbers would suggest where they have taken 11 wickets together in three games but can also slow down the opposition as their economy rate suggests.
Consider this: Moeen has an economy of 6.50 in two games that he has played while Jadeja has 6.88. Santer too has 6.75 and these numbers could be fatal to an opposition like Rajasthan that looks to score at a high pace. A vital cog, Moeen, did miss the last game on account of food poisoning but is expected to feature in the playing XI replacing Sisanda Magala. Another alteration that might take place would be that of Ben Stokes by Dwaine Pretorius. Stokes may not be match fit, come the game.
Royals too have with them enough in their armory the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal with the former being a shrewd tactician and the latter an out-and-out wicket-taker. Tamil Nadu's Murugan Ashwin add teeth to their bowling line-up. Deepak Chahar would give the game, perhaps the entire tournament amiss owing to the resurfacing of a left hamstring injury.