The second week of the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL) draws to a close when the Chennai Super Kings take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Dubai on Friday 2 October.
Before that the in-form Rajasthan Royals clash with Kolkata Knight Riders at the same venue, and the Kings XI Punjab meet the defending champion Mumbai Indians in Abu Dhabi.
Photo Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
Wednesday 30 September | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai | 16:00
To Win Match
Rajasthan Royals 21/20
Tie 25/1
Kolkata Knight Riders 82/100
The Royals have been in spectacular form driven by the incredible form of Sanju Samson and will take some beating.
Jos Buttler is yet to really fire for the Royals making the prospect of facing them that much scarier as it has to be just a matter of time before he explodes.
The Kolkata Knight Riders come into this match having won one and lost one in their two matches. Their potent batting order hasn’t hit its straps as yet, but they cannot be written off.
Eoin Morgan’s influence on KKR was felt in a tricky chase against Sunrisers Hyderabad last time out. Still, they will need to decide if it is worth persisting with pinch-hitter Sunil Narine as an opening partner to Shubman Gill.
The Royals bowling hasn’t blown the doors off the IPL like their batting, their two bowling overseas professionals have probably done enough to avoid losing their places though. Jofra Archer has come through in the clutch with some phenomenal hitting, but Tom Curran’s contribution has been slight.
For KKR Pat Cummins bounced back from a pasting in the opening match to produce a miserly four overs in their victory over the Sunrisers and he may yet prove to be worth the record fee the franchise paid to secure his services.
Verdict: Rajasthan Royals 21/20
Thursday 1 October 2020 | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | 16:00
To Win Match
Kings XI Punjab 5/4
Tie 21/1
Mumbai Indians 67/100
Kings XI Punjab haven’t enjoyed a great deal of luck despite playing quite well and have just one win from three matches so far.
Mumbai Indians and the Kings XI have both suffered Super Over defeats in the competition and sport identical win-loss records ahead of this contest.
Mayank Agarwal scored a hundred in the Kings XI Punjab’s epic defeat to the Royals. A match they must have felt was in the bag with a score of 223 on the board. Earlier in the tournament, a single short-run cost them dearly in their Super Over defeat, and they would be forgiven for pondering what might have been.
Last time out the Mumbai Indians slumped to their first-ever Super Over defeat to the Royal Challengers Bangalore with Ishan Kishan’s brilliant 99 ultimately not enough to secure the victory.
Mumbai’s bowling has let them down so far with Jasprit Bumrah not at his best just yet after the lockdown.
KL Rahul owns the IPL record for the highest score by a skipper, and Indian or anybody else for that matter after his brutal 132 not out earlier in the tournament. If he is on song Kings XI will take some beating.
Verdict: Kings XI Punjab 67/100
Friday 2 October 2020 | Dubai International Stadium, Dubai | 16:00
To Win Match
Chennai Super Kings
Tie
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Friday’s match in the IPL is a clash between two teams in desperate need of a win to lift morale if not get back into the competition.
Chennai Super Kings have fallen short in their last two chases and not looked like getting there for much of their 20 overs while the Sunrisers Hyderabad also haven’t been at their best and sustained successive losses to open the tournament.
CSK skipper MS Dhoni has had his choices questioned but will hope the return of Ambati Rayudu will help paper over some of the cracks.
Faf du Plessis has been CSK’s rock, but he has lacked for partners, and the top order have struggled to get out of the gate with any sort of impetus to date.
The Sunrisers have missed the steadying influence of their captain Kane Williamson while former skipper David Warner will be hoping tor recapture the kind of form that powered the team to their first IPL title.
Verdict: Sunrisers Hyderabad
