The message for the Kolkata Knight Riders is loud and clear: either beat Chennai Super Kings by a handsome margin on Sunday or pack your bags and start planning early for next year’s IPL.
Lying at the bottom half of the table, the Knight Riders must win their remaining two games comprehensively and also hope results of the other matches pan out in such a manner that the situation becomes favourable for them. Only then can their playoffs prospects remain alive.
In these circumstances, Nitish Rana and his teammates need something closer to a miracle if they are to find themselves in the playoffs.
Realistically though, given how the Super Kings have been performing of late, it will be one hell of a task for the Knight Riders to upstage the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side, which has climbed to No.2 in the standings after winning their previous two games. A win on Sunday will strengthen their playoffs chances.
Besides, the MA Chidambaram Stadium has been the four-time champions’ fortress. That said, the conditions at the Chepauk shouldn’t be too much of a concern for the Knights as they do have the spinners, especially Varun Chakravarthy and Suyash Sharma, to make use of the slow pitch.
Agreed, each and every KKR bowler took a pounding at the hands of young Yashasvi Jaiswal last Thursday at the Eden, where Rajasthan Royals whipped them by nine wickets with as many as 41 balls remaining. But the Knights will keep faith in the ability of Chakravarthy and Suyash to bounce back, which they have shown on certain occasions in the ongoing edition.
For sure, against CSK’s batting line-up which has been super-aggressive, starting from openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway, the job won’t be easy at all for the Knights’ spinners.
The Knights’ pace attack has continued to leak runs in almost every game. The spinners, Chakravarthy in particular, have it in them to pull things back.
But for that, the other KKR players need to ensure that the spinners don’t face a hopeless scenario once again when coming on to bowl.
Batters need to show far more urgency, while skipper Rana ought to avoid stunts and be logical with his moves on the field.
The time to be casual is over, it’s do or die.
Today’s match
■ Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 7.30pm, Chennai, live on Star Sports & Jio Cinema
