New Delhi: If you have a look at the IPL points table, CSK and SRH have similar numbers, except run-rate. CSK would thank their gun batting order for that. This is a contest between sides collecting wins by contrasting methods. CSK = batting, SRH = bowling. After Shikhar Dhawan’s injury the other day against KXIP in Mohali, the gap between SRH and CSK has widened, saying SRH will have to hope their strong bowling restricts batting-crazy CSK to a reasonable total. It is not to say that SRH lack good batters but it will fair to point out that they do not have a gun opening pair which can get them off to a flier. Since they are chasing on a good Uppal wicket, it is expected Saha & Co. will step up for the home side.
SRH has won the toss and elected to bowl first. CSK has brought in Faf du Plessis and Karn Sharma while SRK has brought in Ricky Bhui in place of injured Dhawan.
The Sunrisers began their IPL campaign with three wins on the trot before they were stopped on their tracks by West Indian swashbuckler Chris Gayle, who played a special innings of 104 not out off 64 balls at Mohali on Thursday.
The Kane Willamson-led side will have to forget the battering of his bowlers by Gayle and quickly regroup against the Super Kings who, despite having to shift their home venue to Pune due to the Cauvery water dispute, have been doing very well.
After winning their first two matches, the Super Kings slumped to a defeat against Kings XI Punjab before bouncing back with a 64-run win over Rajasthan Royals yesterday on the back of smashing century (106 from 57 balls) from veteran Australian Shane Watson.
Watson has been in fine touch with both the bat and ball, thereby proving his utility as a top-class all-rounder. He is currently the top scorer and top wicket-taker for CSK but tomorrow he will be up against one of the most balanced sides in this IPL.
All the front line bowlers of the Sunrisers — Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Billy Stanlake and Shakib-al-Hasan — have been among the top wicket-takers so far this season though young Afghan spinner Rashid Khan is struggling a bit with just three wickets from four matches. He was taken to the cleaners by Gayle in their last match, conceding 55 runs for one wicket.
Kaul has six wickets while Kumar, Stanlake and Shakib have taken five wickets each. For CSK, Watson is the top bowler with six wickets to his name. Man to man, the Sunrisers have been a better side in the bowling department. In fact, they are touted as the most balanced bowling unit of this IPL.
In the batting department, the Super Kings have a lot of depth. They have batsmen who can play shots well up to the number seven spot. Watson has been leading the charge but Ambati Rayudu and captain and stalwart Mahendra Singh Dhoni are also doing a decent job with the bat.
But Englishman Sam Billings and West Indian Dwayne Bravo have not done much after hitting a half century each, and both would be looking to do better, going ahead.
For the Sunrisers, Kane Williamson and Shikhar Dhawan are the main batsmen in their side. They have been playing that role very well so far though Dhawan had to retire hurt in their last match against Kings XI Punjab after being hit by the ball on his elbow.
Source: Zee News