Second-placed Chennai Super Kings take on third-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad in match 34 of Pepsi IPL 2013.
CSK are on a roll having won their last three matches and have a great opportunity to go atop of the table if they win this contest by a significant margin. However, the two-time champions have been far from convincing, with three of their five wins coming in the last over. They will also be aware of the fact that they have lost two of their four home fixtures and cannot afford to concede any more points at home.
Sunrisers Hyderabad had registered wins against the Pune Warriors India and Kings XI Punjab before their five-day break. Though they have won five of their seven matches so far, their net run rate took a severe beating after their 48-run defeat to the Kolkata Knight Riders. Apart from regaining the momentum, probably has been broken by the break, SRH will also be keen to improve on the net run rate which could come into the equation in deciding which teams progress to the Play-Offs.
When
Thursday, April 25, 2013, 8 p.m
Where
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Though the Chennai Super Kings are blessed with several match-winners in their line-up, the one individual who influences their fortunes like no other is their opening batsman Michael Hussey. The Australian averages an incredible 60 in the 25 CSK wins he has been part of; his batting average plummets to an incredible 19 when CSK have ended on the losing side. Not only does the 37-year old lend stability at the top of the order, he can bat through the entire innings and force the pace towards the end. Hussey batting through the innings allows the stroke-makers – Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni – to play shots without any pressure.
The Sunrisers meanwhile will be buoyed by the return of Shikhar Dhawan. The 27-year old has been out of action since making a scintillating debut in the Mohali Test against Australia. Not only did he score 187 runs, he demolished the Australian bowling attack and raced to the fastest ever (recorded) debut hundred in Test history. His addition to the SRH line-up should reduce the burden on the shoulders of Cameron White and Thisara Perera.
On the bowling front, the spinners will undoubtedly rule the roost; the four over spells of Amit Mishra, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja could have a significant influence on the match.
The Chennai Super Kings will be squaring off with the Hyderabad franchise for the first time in their avatar as Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Prior to this, CSK had met the erstwhile Hyderabad franchise – Deccan Chargers – on ten occasions and had emerged victors in six of them.
Sunrisers Hyderabad have the lowest boundary percentage of the nine teams competing this season; only 41.76% of the runs they’ve scored so far this season has been through hits to or over the boundaries.
Shikhar Dhawan has outstanding numbers as opener in IPL; in 38 innings as opener he has scored 1133 runs at an average of 31.47, including nine half-centuries.
CSK will next be seen in action against the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders who visit them on April 28. Sunrisers Hyderabad meanwhile head to Jaipur after this match to take on the Rajasthan Royals on April 27.
