One team that can challenge CSK on their ground is Kolkata: Aakash Chopra

Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra made quite a few interesting statements while previewing the high-octane clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The two sides are set to square off at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday, May 14.

For the uninitiated, Chennai have been dominant at home, winning four of their six fixtures in the ongoing IPL 2023 season. In addition to this, skipper MS Dhoni has used the spin-friendly wicket to his advantage and obtained favourable results on numerous occasions.

However, cricketer-turned-broadcaster Chopra opined that Nitish Rana-led KKR could be the only franchise that can challenge the yellow outfit at Chepauk, namedropping the number of spinners that KKR possess.

“A potential banana skin for Chennai because if there is one team that can actually challenge them on that ground, that’s Kolkata. Suyash Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine and a bit of Nitish Rana, so you have got a lot of spin,” Aakash told on the ‘AakashVani’ show on JioCinema.

I feel you shouldn’t take Kolkata lightly: Chopra

Notably, KKR’s batting line-up is slowly kicking in with the required kind of form at the fag end of the season. On that note, the former KKR batter added that the four-time winners cannot take Kolkata ‘lightly’ by highlighting the formidable batting line-up.

“In batting, you have got two overseas openers but after that Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh and Andre Russell, who is back in form. They are a proper team. They can even play Anukul Roy here. I feel you shouldn’t take Kolkata lightly. Make a slightly good pitch on which a lot of runs can be scored,” Aakash added.

Venkatesh, Nitish, and explosive southpaw Rinku are the top run-getters for the side with 371, 353, and 348 runs, respectively. Meanwhile, after enduring a poor start to the season, Russell clobbered 42 off 23 balls to win the game against Punjab and will be looking to maintain such form in the upcoming fixtures.