IPL 2020: Under-strength Rajasthan Royals hope to upset in-form CSK

If there were ever an award for being understated, Rajasthan Royals (RR) would probably win it every year. Teams are hyped up, teams are written off — the Royals somehow always find themselves in the middle, neither inspiring hope nor inviting ridicule. But today they’ll be in glaring focus, when they launch their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), among the top dogs in the competition.

Any doubts about CSK’s declining squad and their ability to deal with big-name absentees were dispelled after the emphatic win over Mumbai Indians on Saturday night. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni once again showcased his canny ability to make full use of limited resources, investing all his tactical nous in efficient game management, the highlight of which was his decision to promote Sam Curran while chasing Mumbai’s total of 162.

RR will be relieved to see captain Steve Smith, who missed Australia’s ODI series against England due to concussion, become available for selection. Despite that, the Royals will miss Jos Buttler, who is still under quarantine after flying in late, and all-rounder Ben Stokes, who is yet to confirm his participation. With such marquee names absent, the heavy lifting will have to be done by Sanju Samson and the seemingly timeless Robin Uthappa. Smith himself, in fact, might have a point to prove: In spite of piling up huge runs in Tests and ODIs, the Aussie is yet to fully endear himself to the game’s shortest format.

For CSK, more than the form of Ambati Rayudu and Faf du Plessis, the most important takeaway from the opening game was the bowling: All five bowlers were among the wickets, with the young Curran brilliantly expressing his ability with both bat and ball. What makes this CSK bowling attack so formidable is its variety — each mainline bowler has a unique strength.

Conversely, the Royals are a bit short in that department. Jofra Archer, Andrew Tye, Tom Curran and Oshane Thomas are a strong pace quartet, but all of them bowl right-handed. Similarly, their spin attack is predominantly made up of wrist spinners. The ability to offer something different will be especially crucial in this game, mainly because Sharjah is the smallest of the three venues and naturally, more conducive for hitting sixes.

All factors considered, this has the makings of a tough start for the Royals. Dhoni likes to chase, and if he wins the toss and chooses to do the same tonight, then the Rajasthan batsmen will have to bat exceedingly well to give their bowlers a chance. At the same time, with so little pressure on them to win, the Royals can perhaps expect to play with a carefree abandon that just might unsettle Chennai.