On April 23rd, the Kolkata Knight Riders will face the Chennai Super Kings in the 33rd game of the TATA IPL at the iconic Eden Gardens. This is the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday.
Chennai Super Kings have won four of their six games this season, placing them third on the points table with eight points and a net run rate of +0.355.
KKR vs CSK: 3 Key Match-Ups to Watch Out for in Today Match IPL 2023
1- Rinku Singh vs Moeen Ali
Rinku Singh has stepped up in the Knight Riders’ middle order, scoring 180 runs in six matches. He is averaging 45.00 and has a strike rate of more than 130. Rinku has scored important runs at Eden Gardens twice this season. KKR’s middle order is loaded with left-handed batters, so Moeen Ali would enter the game as CSK’s third spinner. The off-spinner has performed admirably as the tournament’s sixth bowling option, picking up six wickets from four innings at an average of 13 and an economy of 8.66.
2- Andre Russell vs Matheesha Pathirana
The KKR star all-rounder has contributed occasionally, but he hasn’t helped Kolkata win any of the matches so far. Russell hasn’t been consistent with his performances, whether with the bat or the ball. He pitched a solid inning in the previous game, which will boost his confidence heading into this one. The Jamaican is a force to be reckoned with, and CSK recognizes his value. MS Dhoni can use “Baby Malinga” Matheesha Pathirana to get Russell out to stop him. Young Pathirana has been very impressive this season, and he will be difficult to pick from the hand due to his awkward movement.
3- Ajinkya Rahane vs Varun Chakravarthy
Chakaravarthy leads his team’s bowling chart with nine wickets from six innings so far in IPL 2023. The 31-year-old mystery was KKR’s best bowler in their last away game against Delhi Capitals, taking two wickets for 16 runs. He will try to unsettle Ajinkya Rahane, who has been brilliant against pace bowling but has struggled against spinners. In the previous game, the veteran Indian batter scored nine runs against Hyderabad.