Table toppers Chennai Super Kings will be keen to take the sole lead in the league table by winning their return-leg match against Rajasthan Royals in IPL-7 here at the JSCA International Stadium on Tuesday. They now share the lead with Kings XI Punjab, garnering 14 points from nine outings.
Chennai have already won one match at Ranchi, their adopted home venue and the home town of their captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. They will play three more league matches here including the last two which were shifted from Chennai.
The top-order batsmen of the Chennai outfit have been very successful, and the team hasn’t needed much support from the lower-order to win matches. Among them, openers Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum have hardly failed to provide a firm foundation. West Indian all-rounder Smith is now placed second in the list of most run-getters with a total 396 runs, including five fifties, while McCullum is following him at No 3 position with 327 runs, including three half-centuries. The duo is expected to give Chennai another flying and formidable start here against Rajasthan.
Among other frontline Chennai batsmen, Suresh Raina and Faf du Plessis have delivered the goods when required. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been outstanding, while captain Dhoni has played the role of a finisher to perfection.
Pacer Mohit Sharma has been the spearhead of Chennai bowling attack and has 15 victims to his name. Jadeja is the next best wicket-taker for the team with 11 scalps.
But CSK can not take RR lightly and will have to give their best to win their second match here. Led by Shane Watson, Rajasthan are now placed at No 3 with 12 points. They have won six games and lost three so far. A five-wicket win over Bangaore in the last match at Bangalore must have immensely boosted their confidence.
Opener Ajinkya Rahane has been their most successful batsman with a total of 248 runs so far. He is followed by Karun Nair (194), Sanju Samson (193) and Watson (176). Veteran leg-spinner Pravin Tambe has been their top wicket-taker with 14 scalps.
The 35 matches in IPL-7 so far have produced plenty of half-centuries, but not a single century yet. It would, hence, be paisa vasul for the enthusiastic crowd in Ranchi if this game delivers the first three-figure knock.