Chennai keen to continue momentum against Hyderabad

Pranav Mehta

IPL Strokes

CSK VS SRH AT CHENNAI

 TEAM INFO – Chennai have been a team to beat this season with the kind of balance that they have got. Their extremely deep batting line-up allows them to play freely and express themselves. They have won 3 games out of 5 games and with Dhoni back in form, they look like an extremely dangerous side. On the other side, it's Sunrisers Hyderabad who had found momentum with back-to-back wins, just before they faced a tough match against Mumbai, where they were brought down. Sunrisers have 2 wins from 5 games and they have a few gaps which need to be filled immediately.

 Head-to-Head - Played - 18; Won by CSK - 13 Won by SRH – 5

 CSK possible XI – RD Gaikwad, Devon Conway, AT Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane, MM Ali, RA Jadeja, S Dubey, MS Dhoni(C), TU Deshpande, Matheesha Pathirana, M Theekshana

 SRH possible XI – Mayank Agarwal, RA Tripathi, HC Brook, AK Markram(C), Abhishek Sharma, Washington Sundar, M Jansen, H

Klaasen(wk), B Kumar, T Natarajan, M Markande

 Pitch & Weather Report - The pitch at MA Chidambaram Stadium is spin-friendly. The spinners will play a key role while bowling here as the ball tends to grip off the surface. Run-scoring isn’t easy and the batters will have to be on their toes while batting here. Clear skies will greet both sides on Friday, with the temperature in Chennai expected to hover between 28 to 36 degrees Celsius.

 Match Prediction – With Sunrisers having an outstanding pace bowling attack, hence expect Chennai to be hosting them with a spin friendly wicket, which is the biggest strength of Chennai. A part from Mayank Markande and Washington Sunder, SRH doesn’t have any stand out spinners and expect them to bring in a third spinner to back them. The main concern will come in

the batting department, where the CSK’s quality spinners will ask some really difficult questions to the SRH batting line-up. Expecting an easy win for Chennai here at their fortress.

Fan Comments

“CSK have hit most sixes in the 20th over while chasing the target and it is Mahendra Singh Dhoni who tops that list for CSK. Finisher for a reason. Really hoping Dhoni to play a big role in this game.” – Om Yannam, 20, Graphic Designer/BouncerAvenue, Indian.

“Sunrisers have an incredible bowling attack, but they don’t really have the expertise to counter the CSK conditions and believe they are going to have the toughest day of the tournament.” – Faisal al Balushi, 32, Data Analyst, Omani.

“In a land which lives and dreams football, I have grown up as a cricket fan and that’s only and only cause of Mr Mahendra Singh Dhoni. I love the way he thinks way ahead of the situation and thinks extremely freely. Hope he plays at least till 2024 for the love of his fans. – Rashid Salim al Wahibi, 42, Business Owner, Omani.

“I have been following Oman Cricket for quite some time and I hope that cricket is made a part of local schools. Such articles should be made a part of the Omani newspaper as well. Incredible job by Oman Observer for keeping us regularly and in detail informed about the Indian Premier League and not being conservative. Kudos to the sports team of Oman Observer.” -- Yaqoob Ismail al Rashidi, 58, Retired Government Servant, Omani.

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