SRH Vs CSK, Match Preview
One side is realistically in the playoffs and the other side is realistically out of contention. A win seals the playoff spot for Chennai, while a defeat for Sunrisers give them no hope, whatsoever at qualification. The Chennai Super Kings has built a stable and balanced eleven. The side went back to its style of not rotating its players much, unless it is for injuries or workload management. The opening has been good with Faf starting aggressively, while Gaikwad slowly settles in and goes for the big ones in the middle-overs.
While the top-order is brilliant, the middle-order has some power as well. Ambati Rayudu has been striking the ball well, Suresh Raina looks a bit better now, and Ravindra Jadeja is completely smoking the bowlers in the end overs. He provided a crucial cameo against KKR, to win a game that could have been tough to complete. They also have Moeen Ali, who is now retired from Tests. He has rediscovered himself as number three this season, and is providing the spark Dhoni wants up front.
Sunrisers on the other hand has made the most changes this season. They struggled to find their right combination with players like Warner, and Pandey struggling. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s form has also not been as great, and with injuries and isolation, the side couldn’t find a settled eleven.
SRH Vs CSK, Team News
David Warner missed out in the previous game, and his long time association with Sunrisers could be coming to a sour end. His services has been brilliant for the side, and he will be eager to impress one more time, although it is unlikely he will find a place in the eleven. Abhishek Sharma did a good job in the previous fixture as SRH held their cool in a run-chase against Rajasthan. They are likely to stick to the same eleven, unless they decide to give Warner another go. Jadhav and Pandey are also struggling, but both players could keep their places in the side.
Dwayne Bravo took a break in the previous game, and his replacement, Sam Curran had a forgettable outing. He went for runs, didn’t do much with the bat, and his bad form from the Test series carried into the game, If Dwayne Bravo is ready to play, he might slot in for Curran. With the ball turning nicely in Sharjah, Tahir could also come in for Curran or Hazlewood.
SRH Vs CSK, Predicted XIs
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1 Jason Roy, 2 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Priyam Garg, 5 Abhishek Sharma, 6 Jason Holder, 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Siddharth Kaul, 11 Sandeep Sharma
Chennai Super Kings: 1 Faf du Plessis, 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 3 Moeen Ali, 4 Ambati Rayudu, 5 Suresh Raina, 6 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Sam Curran/Dwayne Bravo, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Deepak Chahar, 11 Josh Hazlewood/Imran Tahir
SRH Vs CSK, Players to Watch out for
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been a vital cog for Sunrisers throughout the innings. He is called upon to bowl the tough overs, and his development in the death started with the Sunrisers. This season he hasn’t made the headlines like before, and that could be a vital cause for Sunrisers’s struggle. With the team on the brink, his bowling is crucial for Sunrisers to fight back. His cutters and change-ups will come in handy on the slow Sharjah surface.
MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni hasn’t contributed with the bat in quiet a while. He was out foxed by Varun Chakravarthy yet again, and his struggles against leg-spin were amplified once more. He is brilliant with his captaincy, but will want to do more with the bat. MS Dhoni has a good record against the Sunrisers bowlers, particularly Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and it could be the right time for him to get back to form. With CSK nearly through the playoffs, he could come up the order and spend some time at the crease in a bid to regain his touch.
SRH Vs CSK, Pitch Report
The Sharjah surface has been slow this season. There is a lot of grip for the spinners. The small boundaries aren’t easy to clear with the ball not coming on to the bat as easily. Chasing could prove to be difficult, so batting first is a better choice.
