IPL 2021: CSK vs KKR -Match 38 – Preview, Playing XI, Pitch Report & Updates

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are all set to lock horns in Match 38 of the Indian Premier League. After RCB openers provided a steady start to the team, Chennai displayed great character to restrict Bangalore for 156 in their last match. The team then chased down the total pretty comfortably and secured victory by six wickets. In the opening match of the UAE leg as well, Chennai came from behind to triumph over Mumbai.

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Kolkata, on the other hand, has also won both their matches in the second half of the tournament. KKR completely outplayed RCB in their first match of the UAE leg and secured a dominant win by nine wickets. The team then took their momentum further and registered victory against the five-time champions Mumbai in their previous game. KKR’s Venkatesh Iyer (53) put up an impressive show with the bat alongside Rahul Tripathi (74*) to sail the team past the total.

Heading into this encounter, both the teams will be keen to continue their winning streak in the tournament. If Chennai wins this match they will most certainly qualify for the play-offs. Kolkata already made it to the top four, and another victory will further improve their chances to get into the play-offs.

Pitch Report

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The spinners have received good assistance from this surface. Batting might be a tad bit challenging on the wicket of Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

Playing XI

Chennai Super Kings

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Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (c,wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood

Kolkata Knight Riders

Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan(c), Dinesh Karthik(wk), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakravarthy, Prasidh Krishna

Key Players

Venkatesh Iyer

Venkatesh Iyer has emerged as one of the most promising players for Kolkata Knight Riders. He has performed for the team in both their matches in the UAE leg of the IPL so far. In the match against RCB, he played an impressive knock of unbeaten 41 which included as many as seven fours and a six.

He continued his rich vein of form in the next game as well and hit a half-century against Mumbai Indians. Iyer steadied the chase alongside Rahul Tripathi by playing some splendid shots. The batter will be determined to continue performing for the side.

Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo comes in handy with his excellent all-rounder abilities. He has the repertoire to change the fortunes of the game with both bat and the ball. In the match against Mumbai Indians, Bravo played a quick-fire knock of 23 to take Chennai to a competitive total. He then armed his talent better and scalped three wickets in the match as well.

In the next game, while RCB’s openers laid a strong foundation, Bravo changed the scenario and pulled the momentum towards Chennai. He bowled an exceptional spell wherein he clinched three wickets and conceded just 24 runs. He has been an important asset for the side and will be keen to make an impact in the next game.