CSK look to bounce back from heavy loss to Royal Challengers
Guwahati, March 29
Shaken by the thrashing that Royal Challengers Bengaluru handed them, a confused Chennai Super Kings might feel more “at home” against an equally clueless Rajasthan Royals on an expected slow turner in their next IPL game here on Sunday.
Losing by 50 runs at ‘Fortress Chepauk’ would have seemed like wishful thinking for an opposition side till date but RCB’s ‘class of 2025’ under an ever-improving skipper Rajat Patidar has exposed some chinks in the CSK armoury and the match against Royals couldn’t have come at a better time for Ruturaj Gaikwad’s men.
CSK coach Stephen Fleming looked livid about Chepauk conditions where normally the CSK template is to play games where they either defend 165 to 170 if batting first or chase 155 to 160 by restricting opposition.
The kind of batting line-up that they have with MS Dhoni now becoming a designated ‘tail-ender’ at No. 9 due to Impact Substitution has worked well. But the moment it became a chase of 175-plus, the same line-up didn’t have enough firepower and one world class bowler (Josh Hazlewood) and another seasoned veteran (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) were good enough to stop the home team in their tracks.
In this backdrop, playing Royals on a surface which is “more Chepauk-ish than typical Barsapara Stadium track full of runs” might just help them get a win against a side that also doesn’t boast of a great bowling attack.
Also Riyan Parag is too raw as a skipper and to put it mildly seems completely out of place for a high stakes assignment like leading a franchise.
DC eye second win
Visakhapatnam: Fresh from their morale-boosting win over LSG and bolstered by the return of India wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul, Delhi Capitals will look to build on the momentum when they take on formidable Sunrisers Hyderabad.
After a thunderous start to their campaign, SRH lost to Lucknow Super Giants by five wickets on Thursday as the defeat showed that their explosive batting line-up can be reined in. Going out of their den, the pressure will be on skipper Pat Cummins to inspire a turnaround.
Delhi, on the other hand, will be strengthened by the return of Rahul, who missed the season opener against LSG due to the birth of his first child. Despite his experience, he chose not to lead the side, entrusting the responsibility on Axar Patel. — PTI
