IPL Tips: We preview Hyderabad v Chennai and Kolkata v Rajasthan
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After six weeks of intense competition, it’s crunch time in the Indian Premier League.
Four teams have now departed the tournament, leaving Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals to fight it out for the IPL title.
We’ve previewed the first qualifier and the first eliminator below…
Sunrisers Hyderabad v Chennai Super Kings (Qualifier 1)
These two finished top of the pile in the regular season with an identical 9-5 record.
They meet in Mumbai on Tuesday safe in the knowledge that the loser will have another chance to qualify for the final courtesy of Friday’s second qualifier.
The winner, however, will go straight through to Sunday’s final.
And based on their head-to-head record, it’s Chennai who could make it directly through at 8/11.
The Super Kings have won six of their eight meetings against Sunrisers (11/10) including both clashes this season.
Kane Williamson and Ambati Rayudu are likely to be the key men as far as run scoring is concerned.
The former has racked up a tournament-high eight half-centuries, with the latter managing 586 runs from his 14 matches so far.
Shikhar Dhawan has recorded knocks of 50, 79 and 92 in three of his last four matches. He’s available at 11/4 to Top Score for the home side.
Siddarth Kaul and Shardul Thakur top the charts for most wickets taken for either team and will be key in the respective bowling attacks.
Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals (Eliminator 1)
Wednesday’s eliminator sees the Knight Riders take on the Royals, who are in their first season back following a two-year absence.
Rajasthan missed the 2016 and 2017 campaigns through suspension and are 6/4 to continue their return with an eliminator victory.
Opponents Kolkata are making their sixth appearance in the post-season shake-up and are 8/15 to win their initial eliminator match for a second season in a row.
They’ve beaten their rivals by six and seven-wicket margins already this season.
Australian star Chris Lynn could be key once again. The 28-year-old has Top Scored for the hosts on six occasions this season and is 5/2 to do so again on Wednesday. He’s 5/6 to Score Over 25.5 Runs.
The Knight Riders will fancy their chances even more against a Royals side that will be without star batsman Jos Buttler.
In the Englishman’s absence, the onus will fall upon Ajinkya Rahane (324 total runs) at 11/4 and Sanju Samson (391 total runs) at 3/1.
Kolkata’s Sunil Narine has 16 wickets to his name this season and is 3/1 to be their Top Wicket Taker against the Royals. He’s also 5/1 to be named Man of the Match for the fourth time this season.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
