IPL 2021: Curran replaces Bravo as KKR opt to bat vs CSK

English all-rounder Sam Curran replaces Dwayne Bravo in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) eleven facing the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, as both Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Eoin Morgan look to string a run of three consecutive wins since the restart of IPL 2021. 

KKR captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and chose to bat. He also confirmed he has fielded the same playing eleven that beat Mumbai Indians at the same venue on Thursday. 

The Irish-born Englishman said that today’s encounter “will be a different challenge as it’s a day game.There’s more pace in the wicket as compared to the last year. In this sort of heat, it might get slower later.”

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Meanwhile, speaking about Bravo’ situation, Dhoni said the Trinidadian “had a few niggles in the CPL, so we need to make sure he doesn’t develop them further.”

“The support staff is very important. Having experienced players in the side helps. In IPL it’s about managing the combinations,” he added. 

Both KKR and CSK have send a warning message to the rest of the league with statement wins in their first two games. Another commonality between the two teams is that they have both their games so far against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and champions Mumbai Indians. 

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While, CSK beat MI and RCB by 20 runs and seven wickets respectively, KKR tamed RCB and MI by nine and seven wickets respectively.

CSK are currently second on the points table, with 14 points from 9 games, with a resurgent KKR on fifth, with 8 points from 9 games.  

Playing XIs:

Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (WK/C), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood

Kolkata Knight Riders: Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Eoin Morgan (C), Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakaravarthy, Prasidh Krishna