IPL 2018: Will the Chennai Super Kings reign supreme or will the Eden Gardens celebrate the Knight Riders?

The Chennai Super Kings are firmly placed in the top-half of the table while the Kolkata Knight Riders are trying to separate themselves from the chasing lower half. Both the two teams have displayed some very high-quality cricket in IPL 2018 although it would be fair to say that CSK is making fart-stopping finishes a habit.

Playing in Kolkata is never easy for teams because the surface is pretty unique. KKR has traditionally been able to make its home ground a fortress and is tough to beat at the Eden Gardens. CSK and MS Dhoni, on the other hand, are enjoying a resurgence that is bringing smiles to the faces of millions of fans.

 

• Chennai Super Kings top the Indian Premier League 2018 table after six wins from their first eight matches. 
• The Super Kings successfully chased 203 against KKR to win when the teams met in Chennai earlier in the season, despite Andre Russell blasting 88 from 36 balls for the Knight Riders. 
• Chennai batsman Ambati Rayudu currently leads the race for the orange cap, having scored 370 runs from eight innings at an average of 46.25, and with a strike rate of more than 150.

Which team will come out on top in this clash between two sides likely to make the playoffs?

Team News :

Kolkata Knight Riders:

Nitish Rana, who retired hurt in the last game due to a lower back spasm, will be doubtful to play in this match. His fitness will be assessed on matchday morning. If Rana is not fit then most likely Ishank Jaggi will be taking his place. There is a chance if Nitish Rana does not play then Kolkata team can promote Shubman Gill’s batting order.

Chennai Super Kings:

Expected change from Chennai Super Kings is that Shardul Thakur can replace KM Asif who was very expensive in the previous outing.

Probable Playing XI:

Kolkata Knight Riders: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana/Ishank Jaggi, Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), Shubman Gill, Shivam Mavi, Piyush Chawla, Mitchell Johnson/Tom Curran, Kuldeep Yadav

Chennai Super Kings: Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Karn Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Lungi Ngidi, Shardul Thakur/KM Asif

Team Head to Head

Overall: Matches – 17, Kolkata Knight Riders won – 6, Chennai Super Kings won – 11

At the Wankhede Stadium: Matches – 7, Kolkata Knight Riders won – 3, Chennai Super Kings won – 4

In the last five meetings between these teams, the trend has been for the home teams to prevail. The Chennai Super Kings emerged victors in Chennai and Ranchi, while KKR prevailed in the matches played in Kolkata.

Match Prediction

KKR lost to CSK in a thriller in their first match against each other this season. That result means that KKR has lost three out of its last five matches to CSK. The weather could make this match very unpredictable, but we still think that home advantage will be significant in the contest.

Back the Kolkata Knight Riders to win.