Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings Key Players
CSK vs PBKS Key Players Battles Preview:
Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings Key Players Battles in IPL 2022. Things haven’t gone according to plan for both Punjab and Chennai this season. Punjab Kings started the tournament with a bang but have been on a free fall ever since. CSK too hasn’t got going at all this season. They have two wins to show from 7 games so far. Both these teams have managed to stay afloat thanks to a few individual performances. It won’t be much different this time too.
We look at the key player battles in this game:
#1 Mayank Agarwal vs Mukesh Choudhary
PBKS will ideally want more from their captain. Apart from a breezy cameo against RCB and a starring role against MI, Mayank Agarwal has done little of note. He has been susceptible to the new ball. CSK will fancy its chances against Agarwal early in the innings. Mukesh Choudhary put in a winning performance against MI picking up Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan in the very first over. He will be eager to do an encore against Agarwal and Punjab.
#2 Liam Livingstone vs Dwaine Pretorius
The last time these two sides met it was Liam Livingstone who made a telling impact. His all-around performance dismantled CSK. Livingstone will be keen to repeat his histrionics against CSK. In a tournament where bowling sides have dominated, CSK’s bowling looks well under par. Livingstone would want to go all out against a not-so-penetrative CSK attack. Dwaine Pretorius will be standing in Livingstone’s way though. This battle could well set up this game.
#3 Shikhar Dhawan vs Ravindra Jadeja/Mitchell Santner
CSK’s patience with Moeen Ali seems to have run out. He was dropped for the game against MI. His replacement, Mitchell Santner, put in a spirited display. Santner though will be up against Shikhar Dhawan in this game. The southpaw loves targeting left-arm spin. Against CSK, he will be up against two left-arm spin options, if CSK chose to play Santner again. This matchup will have a defining impact on the game.
#4 Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Arshdeep Singh
The struggles of Ruturaj Gaikwad seem never-ending. He has only fifty to his name in seven games so far. Gaikwad has been troubled with the early seam movement that pacers have managed to generate this season. Punjab will look to employ Arshdeep Singh against him. The Punjab seamer has the knack of picking key wickets. This opening duel could set the stage for the rest of the game.
#5 Shivam Dube vs Rahul Chahar
It will be a battle between CSK’s best batsman and Punjab’s best bowler. Shivam Dube has always held the aces when it comes to taking on the spin. Rahul Chahar, on the other hand, is someone who loves a fight. Dube will be keen to stamp his authority against Chahar. This fight of flight will dictate the proceedings in the middle overs.
