Rahul top scores for LSG but Samson and Jurel get RR home with their 121-run stand
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Four-time IPL champion Chennai Super Kings returns to its home turf and its happy hunting ground at the MA Chidambaram Stadium for what looks like an intriguing clash against inaugural winner Rajasthan Royals.
The Men in Yellow enjoy a 70 per cent success rate at the venue where they also won their last match against Lucknow Super Giants, albeit by a narrow margin of 12 runs.
Meanwhile, the Royals will be hoping to storm the host's citadel and claim its third win of the campaign which will take them to joint place on the top of the IPL table alongside Lucknow.
Here are five keys to this interesting match
A royal record
The Royals will be inspired by its recent record against Chennai where it has won four of its last five matches.
The last time the two teams met was in May last year when the Royals dug deep to prize out a win in the final over which catapulted them into the first qualifier against eventual champion Gujarat Titans.
In terms of overall head-to-head statistics Chennai leads with 15 wins against 11.
It will be interesting to see how this match plays out.
Super morale
Chennai Super Kings heads into the match high on morale following a victory over talent-rich Mumbai Indians at the latter’s Wankhede Stadium. Ajinkya Rahane played a big role with the bat while Ravindra Jadeja proved effective with the ball.
Defeating Mumbai at its den is a huge achievement and it will bolster Chennai who has looked invincible at home. However, Rajasthan will be plotting to bring down the four-time IPL winner in its backyard.
Batting prowess
Yashasvi Jaiswal has looked very impressive playing alongside Jos Buttler while West Indian big-hitter Shimron Hetmyer has reiterated his reputation as a bona fide finisher for the Royals.
Bulter was the star performer when it scored a convincing win over Delhi and the England skipper will be the man Chennai will want to neutralize.
Forget the duck
Sanju Samson has been an absolute star for the Royals all season. But will the four-ball duck against Delhi is something that will play on his mind? Nobody likes to get out without scoring and Samson must be hurting from that setback which he will hope to make amends for if he gets the chance to bat against CSK.
Spin and pace
Another pivotal point of the Royals line-up is the pairing of pacer Trent Boult and crafty spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Strange bedfellows, they complement each other with Boult’s strong pace and Chahal’s leg-spin posing plenty of problems to batsmen at both ends of the wicket
Although the historic venue that has something for bat and ball Chepauk is best remembered for delivering one of the greatest finishes in Test cricket where Greg Matthews spun Australia to an incredible tie against India in 1986.
Today's match
Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals
6 pm, UAE Time
Chennai
Head-to-head
Matches 26
Chennai won 15
Royals won 11
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