Chennai Super Kings have once again shown that they are the team to watch out for in the playoffs as they eased past Mumbai Indians in the eliminator. Chennai looks a very balanced side with both the bowling and the batting peaking at the right time while Kings XI Punjab would be looking to put behind their defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens. Punjab by far has the best batting line-up and their chances of failing for the second time is highly unlikely when both the teams meet on Friday to decide who will be the second finalist.

Here is a look at the players to watch out for in the virtual semi-final between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab:

Chennai Super Kings

Suresh Raina: Raina is one of the most prolific run-scorers in the shortest format of the game, especially for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. Raina has the ability to take the game away from the opposition and is no mug with the ball in the hand as well. His form will be crucial for CSK if they wish to win the title.

Dwayne Smith: Smith has carried on his good form from Mumbai Indians to Chennai Super Kings and is in no mood to stop. His form with the bat is the reason behind CSK’s good start early in the innings and if he keeps going at this rate, he will make a lot of bowlers look really ordinary.

Ravi Ashwin: Ashwin has been one more guy who has contributed a lot in CSK’s success over the years and his off-spinners have rattled more than a couple of players in the IPL. He can come in and bowl in the powerplay overs and has this unique ability of breaking partnerships.
Ishwar Pandey: Pandey is a dangerous bowler early on in the innings as he gets the ball to move both ways and is a strike bowler who can get CSK off to a good start with the new ball.

Kings XI Punjab

Glen Maxwell: Maxwell so far has been the player of the tournament by scoring more than 500 runs and also the player who has hit the maximum sixes in the tournament. No ground is big enough when Maxwell gets going and can give the bowlers a good hiding on his day.

David Miller: If Maxwell has been the player of the tournament then Miller is not far behind as he has had an equally good tournament with the bat and also like Maxwell can hit the ball a long way. Miller and Maxwell duo has done the job for Kings XI Punjab.

Sandeep Sharma: Sandeep Sharma has troubled most of the opening batsmen in the tournament and has the ability to strike early on in the innings. Sharma can swing the ball both ways which is always a good quality to have and can be the bowler to watch out for in the match against Chennai Super KIngs.

Akshar Patel: Akshar Patel has been a real find for the Kings XI Punjab both with the bat and ball in hand as he continues to make a strong case for himself to be a part of the playing eleven. Patel’s slow leftarm spin can come in handy in conditions conducive for spin bowling. Patel is a complete package as he can bat and bowl, not to mention his acrobatics in the field.

By Sajal Kumar Patra
Indian Sports News Network