INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE: Our cricket tipster The Edge previews Monday’s Chennai Super Kings v Rajasthan Royals match in the IPL with a recommended BETDAQ bet.


The Edge has been a professional cricket trader for over 12 years, and we are delighted to have his columns on BETDAQ Tips. He provides his best bets on a points scale between 1 and 5, with 5 being a rare max bet.

Because we see so much action in-running on cricket, he will also provide some in-running strategies that could develop in-play and lead to some excellent value bets. The Edge covers all forms of cricket: Test Matches, ODI’s and T20’s but his favourite competition is the Indian Premier League each season.


MATCH OVERVIEW:

We’re into the final third of the IPL 2020 now and the pressure is increasing! Both these sides suffered defeats on Saturday at the hands of RCB and Delhi, and they are in massive danger of slipping away from the Playoffs. At this stage, they simply need to start winning games but more importantly, we aren’t far away from them having to rely on the likes of KKR and Sunrisers Hyderabad losing for them to catch up. That’s not a position you want to be in.

Clearly both sides have their flaws, and I think the weekend probably shined an even brighter light on them. The problem is the bowling, and to a lesser extent the lower order batting. Dhoni has been a problem for CSK; he is no longer the finisher he once was and their bowling has been very poor compared to previous years. For Rajasthan their bowling has always been an issue and while Stokes should improve the side – he needs game time and he generally takes a few games to hit top form. Rajasthan dearly need that now!

Neither side are playing bad cricket; they just lack that absolute star firepower to get them over the line. Just like we saw with AB de Villiers and RCB. Stokes could do that for Rajasthan in the latter half of the tournament, but he can’t do everything himself. CSK need to bowl better and need to up their batting strike rate too.


WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:

We move back to Abu Dhabi to start the week. We had a day game here on Sunday, but I wouldn’t read too much into that as conditions are always slightly different. Everything points to 170 being a par score here based on what we’ve seen. Mumbai chased down 162/4 here recently and 160 is probably just a little light – but enough to worry the chasing team. 170 is a very nice score to defend, with anything over that being an excellent score. You’d have to bowl badly to lose from there I think. The weather has been superb in the UAE, and thankfully we’re set fair again.


RECOMMENDED BET:

It’s hard to see anything other than a very close game here. I have this a complete 50/50 game, and naturally I think CSK are too short at 1.9, so I’m happy to opt for a small bet on Rajasthan at the small value price of 2.06 with BETDAQ Betting Exchange. Stokes has had two games now to get his eye in and adjust to conditions; I feel he will start performing soon. CSK are batting too slow at the moment, and that needs to change. I take on board the Rajasthan bowling might help that, but I still have this game 50/50 and see Rajasthan as the marginal value call.

The Edge Says:
One point win Rajasthan Royals to beat Chennai Super Kings at 2.06 with BETDAQ Betting Exchange.

View the market here -> http://bit.ly/BDQCskPun


IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:

We have had some successful chases here, but you definitely want to bat first. I would focus on looking for trades on the team batting first. Mumbai have successfully chased in their last two games here; however they were chasing 162 and 148. That probably looks a little light, and it comes back to the trading idea that you can have the ideal conditions and platform for success, but you still need the team to deliver!

CSK have batted slowly in the middle overs, and I think suggest the same can happen here. Especially with the wickets slowing down recently. I would also be happy to be against the Rajasthan lower order, so there’s plenty of opportunity to be on the bowling side in this one. However, the main advantage will come from batting first. I’d expect plenty of flip flops in-running given both sides are pretty equal.


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