NEW DELHI: Today's IPL 2018 match-up between table-toppers Chennai Super Kings and fourth-placed Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens has West Indian legend Sir Viv Richards musing about how Dinesh Karthik plans to put a forestall to CSK's batting might.
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When those two teams met in the first week of the event, CSK chased down KKR's 202/6 with five wickets and one supply final in what proved a mystery. Since that match, CSK have come inside of four runs of matching Kings XI Punjab's 197, piled up 204/five against Rajasthan Royals, made 182/3 to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by way of four runs, chased 206 with five wickets and two balls left versus Royal Challengers Bangalore, lost to Mumbai Indians by way of 8 wickets and smashed 211/4 to beat Delhi Daredevils by way of 13 runs.
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Leading the way in which were Ambati Rayudu (370 runs) and MS Dhoni (286 runs), and no total has seemed secure when the pair has batted together. Ahead of nowadays's match, Richards used to be keen to look how KKR captain Karthik would counter Dhoni and Rayudu.
"There is no doubt that MS Dhoni has been unstoppable this season, but Dinesh Karthik has brought something new to the table by putting abundant faith in his young bowlers," wrote Richards in his Times of India column.
"Showing confidence and mentoring youngsters seems to be the No 1 agenda in Karthik's scheme of things. KKR's Shivam Mavi went for a lot of runs against Punjab but Karthik played Mavi in the next match and the bowler justified the faith shown on him. Another factor that works for Kolkata is Sunil Narine's role as an opener. It reminds me of [Sanath] Jayasuriya during his hey days. Both teams have a well-rounded squad that knows when to step up, but it will be interesting to see what the boys do on their given day."
CSK sit atop the IPL 2018 points desk and can seal passage to the playoffs with two extra wins, and Richards believed their luck owed to a good balanced squad.
"Among the teams that hope to occupy the top four slots, Chennai is the stand out side. A team that was frowned upon for being full of retired players, it has stepped up and shown the world what experience can do for them. Each player is aware of his role and executes it to perfection," he wrote. "Ambati Rayudu is their in-form player. Though he has been in the IPL for a while - eight years with the Mumbai Indians - the current season seems have brought out his best. He knows exactly the kind of innings the team needs and he has delivered it too, amassing 370 runs in eight innings."
CSK and SRH have 12 points, followed by way of KXIP with 10 and KKR with 8. RCB, Rajasthan, Mumbai and Daredevils are the teams suffering to stay afloat.
"I might say the joy in this IPL is with reference to to get higher with the general level of the league but to come back. T20 is unpredictable and that's what makes the game so exciting; with good fielding, spectacular catches, record-breaking innings, bowling best possible line and duration, this season has been one for the books.
With 3 former champions in the backside five of the league standings, it's time we knew who will make it to the playoffs," wrote Richards.
ALSO READ - Dhoni, Bravo and Watson have lot to supply: Fleming
When those two teams met in the first week of the event, CSK chased down KKR's 202/6 with five wickets and one supply final in what proved a mystery. Since that match, CSK have come inside of four runs of matching Kings XI Punjab's 197, piled up 204/five against Rajasthan Royals, made 182/3 to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by way of four runs, chased 206 with five wickets and two balls left versus Royal Challengers Bangalore, lost to Mumbai Indians by way of 8 wickets and smashed 211/4 to beat Delhi Daredevils by way of 13 runs.
ALSO READ: Dhoni's turn-around sensational, says Aakash Chopra
Leading the way in which were Ambati Rayudu (370 runs) and MS Dhoni (286 runs), and no total has seemed secure when the pair has batted together. Ahead of nowadays's match, Richards used to be keen to look how KKR captain Karthik would counter Dhoni and Rayudu.
"There is no doubt that MS Dhoni has been unstoppable this season, but Dinesh Karthik has brought something new to the table by putting abundant faith in his young bowlers," wrote Richards in his Times of India column.
"Showing confidence and mentoring youngsters seems to be the No 1 agenda in Karthik's scheme of things. KKR's Shivam Mavi went for a lot of runs against Punjab but Karthik played Mavi in the next match and the bowler justified the faith shown on him. Another factor that works for Kolkata is Sunil Narine's role as an opener. It reminds me of [Sanath] Jayasuriya during his hey days. Both teams have a well-rounded squad that knows when to step up, but it will be interesting to see what the boys do on their given day."
CSK sit atop the IPL 2018 points desk and can seal passage to the playoffs with two extra wins, and Richards believed their luck owed to a good balanced squad.
"Among the teams that hope to occupy the top four slots, Chennai is the stand out side. A team that was frowned upon for being full of retired players, it has stepped up and shown the world what experience can do for them. Each player is aware of his role and executes it to perfection," he wrote. "Ambati Rayudu is their in-form player. Though he has been in the IPL for a while - eight years with the Mumbai Indians - the current season seems have brought out his best. He knows exactly the kind of innings the team needs and he has delivered it too, amassing 370 runs in eight innings."
CSK and SRH have 12 points, followed by way of KXIP with 10 and KKR with 8. RCB, Rajasthan, Mumbai and Daredevils are the teams suffering to stay afloat.
"I might say the joy in this IPL is with reference to to get higher with the general level of the league but to come back. T20 is unpredictable and that's what makes the game so exciting; with good fielding, spectacular catches, record-breaking innings, bowling best possible line and duration, this season has been one for the books.
With 3 former champions in the backside five of the league standings, it's time we knew who will make it to the playoffs," wrote Richards.
Interesting to see how KKR bowlers approach Dhoni: Richards
![Interesting to see how KKR bowlers approach Dhoni: Richards]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
May 03, 2018
Rating:
