Chennai: As IPL approaches the ending stages of the initial phase of the league, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) would look to fetch the two points at stake, make their grip for the play-offs firmer against the late bloomers this season, Delhi Capitals (DC) on Wednesday, having started their season miserably and now gradually finding feet.
While Chennai would look to affirm their position in the last four, most of Delhi's matches are virtually do-or-die and they need to come up with consistently stupendous performances to keep their hopes alive. CSK would take a leaf from their last performance against the MI, although the team has a knack for being invincible at their home ground at Chepauk. As challenging as it can be in Chennai, DC would pin hopes on their recent resurgence and a win here could be extrapolated from their last few matches.
It would still not be a stroll in the park against CSK if their last performance is weighed by any means. Their bowlers raised their hands in a low-scoring match on Saturday where Matheesha Pathirana kept the opposition from going all guns followed up by the batters Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, and Shivam Dube ensuring to take the team home.
CSK's top order has been phenomenal. Conway has 457 runs, Gaikwad has amassed 292 while Ajinkya Rahane's 245 runs have added to the solidity of the batting order. The concern, however, remains of the middle order as they haven't been able to shore up to the performing top order batters and provide the management the trust of bailing the team out of difficult situation.
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Seasoned campaigner Ambati Rayudu (95 runs in 11 games) and Ravindra Jadeja (92 in 11 games) don't have happy numbers to reflect in their report card which makes the middle-order vulnerable. MS Dhoni has provided the thrilling cameos as per the requirement of the innings and team.
Under the circumstances, the team would hope that the middle-order is not exposed when the chips are down in a crucial game and Rayudu, Moeen and Jadeja find their groove in time. Meanwhile, Shivam Dumbe does provide the silver lining having scored 290 runs in 9 innings and the powerful batter would look to finish games for his team.
The bowling too hasn't been clinical. Tushar Deshpande with 19 wickets does reflect of being an individual with a knack of picking wickets but an economy rate of 10.33 while leaking runs during critical phases is concerning. The ever-consistent Jadeja has provided the team with vital blows to the opposition and Pathirana too would look to carry on with what he has been doing. Phil Salt, who can bombard the opposition with serious hitting, would like to keep a watch over Pathirana as his unusual action can fetch him wickets.
DC batting has been simply poor but Salt has offered the team a ray of hope to turn things around. In the same vein, the performance of DC has rather been a disappointing one with skipper David Warner looking rusty, Mitchell Marsh and Powell not garnering runs as they are expected. But four wins in their last five matches must have filled them with the desirability to go all guns blazing come the next matches.
The hopes of them reaching the play-offs is slender and seizing a win against Chennai at Chepauk would require plenty of teamwork rather than a lone-wolf attack. That perfect recipe for DC to win would be tackling the CSK's spinners without losing out on wickets and figuring a way out to stop the carnage unleashed by Conway and Gaikwad to expose their middle order.
For Delhi, experienced Ishant Sharma can be a dangerous proposition for the CSK. Fast bowler Anrich Nortje, Marsh and the spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel have enough in them to restrict CSK's batting to a minimal score.
Teams (from):
Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Akash Singh, Moeen Ali, Bhagath Varma, Deepak Chahar, Devon Conway, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Sisanda Magala, Ajay Mandal, Matheesha Pathirana, Dwaine Pretorius, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Ambati Rayudu, Mitchell Santner, Subhranshu Senapati, Simarjeet Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Ben Stokes, Maheesh Theekshana.
Delhi Capitals: David Warner (capt), Prithvi Shaw, Mitchell Marsh, Sarfaraz Khan, Aman Hakim Khan, Abhishek Porel (wk), Axar Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Kuldeep Yadav, Rovman Powell, Rilee Rossouw, Anrich Nortje, Mustafizur Rahaman, Chetan Sakariya, Mukesh Kumar, Phil Salt, Lungi Ngidi, Praveen Dubey, Lalit Yadav, Ripal Patel, Vicky Ostwal, Ishant Sharma, Manish Pandey, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Yash Dhull.
Match Starts at 7:30 pm IST.
