Net Run Rate!! The buzz word ever since that CSK vs RR game!! Two games after that, you see big/significant losses and damaged NRR's. Essentially you leave it to luck hoping for a massive win, to erase the massive deficit that you accumulate. Getting massive wins later on is not easy as teams are well oiled and in rhythm and are completely turned on with their focus on playoff qualification or IPL final/title aim. By minimizing NRR damage early in the tournament, you are faced with the option of winning by small margins to get through and it will feel easier than being asked to win by a mountain in latter stages.
And it looks like teams being put into bat first have been winning here quite consistently. Except for the opening game (MI vs CSK), every other game has been won by the side that has batted first and also by the side that has been pushed to bat first by the side winning the toss. I think there are some teams out there who need to rethink their toss strategy. Teams which have weaker bowling but decent-strong batting should continue to chase if they win the toss (e.g. CSK, RR).
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CSK's game tomorrow against DC. Looks like Rayudu might sit out this one too. Bravo is said to be getting ready but I would sit him out another game here as Curran is on a roll. Drop Vijay and get in an extra bowler in Shardul Thakur (handy with bat too), open with Ruturaj, play Rayudu if ready or continue with Jadhav, and bring in Tahir for Ngidi. Batting still looks fine as we can bat till 10 (Chahar, Chawla and Thakur are handy bats). Third spinner can be helpful in Dubai and against a team like DC.
Ruturaj
Watson
Faf
Rayudu/Jadhav
Dhoni
Curran
Jadeja
Thakur
Chawla
Chahar
Tahir