The home fortress – MA Chidambaram – was finally breached this season when Mumbai Indians beat Chennai Super Kings in this year’s opening game and since then Mahendra Sing Dhoni’s team has looked far from convincing.
But going into Saturday’s match, Chennai Super Kings will definitely hold the upper-hand against a sans- Adam Gilchrist Kings XI Punjab whose fortune seemed to be getting back on track till Mumbai Indians snatched victory against them from the mouth of defeat in Mohali.
While cricket isn’t played on the drawing board, the players who could make a difference going into today’s game are:
Kings XI Punjab:
Shaun Marsh: Shaun Marsh, KXIP’s most talented batsmen certainly looks in good touch and he would hold the key to their success against Chennai Super Kings tonight. It is required for him to score big in this match.
David Hussey: He is a dangerous player and it is known to everyone. He is fresh from his half century in the last match against Mumbai Indians and would look to capitalize in that. Hussey is a very good all-round cricketer and plays well in almost all the situations.
Azhar Mahmood: Mahmood has proved what he can do with the ball in this tournament. He is equally effective with the bat as well and lot would depend on him. He is one of the finest all-rounders and has a lot of experience playing in this format.
Parvinder Awana: He has shown his class already in the tournament and has a four-wicket and a three-wicket hall against his name. He is bowling good line and also is able to swing the ball. He has been successful in getting important breakthroughs.
Chennai Super Kings:
Suresh Raina: He is one of the most successful batsmen in the history of IPL but this time around, Raina has not been able to leave his mark on the tournament yet. He is well aware what his team expects and would be itching to deliver on the expected lines.
Francois du Plessis: The most successful batsmen of Chennai Super Kings this season, du Plessis is on a spree. He has been playing amazingly and has already played some match winning knocks. His ability to take the attack at the top of the order is what makes him even more dangerous.
R Ashwin: He is one bowler on whom Dhoni believes a lot .He knows that and has bowled the way everyone expects him to bowl and will once again lead the spin bowling pack for the CSK.
Shadab Jakati: Chennai pitch is very well suited to Jakati’s style of bowling. He is a wicket-to-wicket bowler and never gives batsmen any room to hit. He has a healthy neck of picking wickets and can be very effective on slow wickets.
By Samikshan Dutta Choudhury
Indian Sports News
