As the league season reaches a crucial stage where teams are edging closer to the playoffs while some sides will be knocked out of the reckoning soon. In Match 46 of the 2024 Indian Premier League season, Chennai Super Kings are poised to take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the iconic M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
At this juncture in the tournament, Chennai Super Kings find themselves at the midpoint with an equal number of wins and losses, positioning them fifth on the points table. Recent outings have been less than ideal for the team, suffering two consecutive defeats at the hands of the same opponent.
Sunrisers Hyderabad will be eager to return to their winning form following their recent defeat at home against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The team suffered a setback, losing by 35 runs, which has impacted their aspirations of climbing to the second spot on the points table.
What has happened so far?
Under the leadership of new captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Chennai Super Kings kicked off their campaign with a bang, securing a victory over RCB. However, their journey has hit a rough patch since then, with 4 losses in the next 7 matches.
In their recent outing at their home ground, despite posting a formidable total of 210 runs, they faced an unexpected defeat on their home turf. Shivam Dube’s explosive innings of 66 runs off 27 deliveries, complemented by Ruturaj Gaikwad’s century paved the way for CSK’s victory. However, Marcus Stoinis emerged as the spoiler, smashing a century to lead Lucknow Super Giants to a stunning win, thwarting CSKi’s hopes of gaining revenge on LSG.
Conversely, the Sunrisers Hyderabad encountered their initial defeat after a streak of five consecutive victories. Their impressive run was primarily fueled by dominant batting displays. However, while chasing a challenging target of 207 runs at home, the Sunrisers faced setbacks as they lost wickets at regular intervals, hampering their pursuit.
Despite commendable efforts from Abhishek Sharma and Pat Cummins, who made significant contributions, the revamped RCB bowling unit proved too formidable to overcome. As a result, the Sunrisers succumbed to a defeat by 35 runs.
Head to Head Record
In the longstanding rivalry between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings, the latter has emerged as the dominant force, securing victory in 14 out of the 20 encounters between the two teams. In contrast, Sunrisers Hyderabad has managed to clinch victory only six times in this head-to-head battle.
In the most recent clash between the two sides, Sunrisers Hyderabad defied the odds by emerging victorious with a convincing six-wicket win.
Key Players
Shivam Dube has shown incredible form for CSK in IPL 2024
Shivam Dube (Chennai Super Kings): Shivam Dube has been nothing short of sensational for Chennai Super Kings, particularly since the last season. Renowned for his striking prowess against spin, Dube has showcased his versatility by dominating all bowlers in the ongoing campaign.
In eight games, he has amassed an impressive 311 runs at an average of 51.83 and a scintillating strike rate of 169.95. In the recent clash against Gujarat Titans, Dube’s blistering knock of 66 runs off just 27 deliveries played a pivotal role in propelling his side to a formidable total of 210 runs.
Travis Head (Sunrisers Hyderabad): After investing INR 6.8 crore on Travis Head, Sunrisers Hyderabad might have anticipated the player’s stellar performance in the ongoing tournament.
However, Head has not only lived up to expectations but has also set the stage ablaze, particularly in the powerplay overs. In seven games, he has accumulated 326 runs at a strike rate of 216, including a century and two half-centuries.
In the fixture against RCB, Head was dismissed cheaply by Will Jacks inside the first over of the innings and the southpaw would be eager to get back to his usual form against CSK.
Team News from Both Camps
Chennai Super Kings boast one of the fittest squads in the league, with key players readily available for selection. The absence of Devon Conway due to injury has been a setback, but the inclusion of English fast bowler Richard Gleeson serves as a suitable replacement.
The concerns loom over the struggling form of Rachin Ravindra and the upcoming unavailability of Mustafizur Rahman from May 1st due to national commitments.
Sunrisers Hyderabad indeed possess one of the most stable squads in the tournament, with their batting lineup firing consistently from Travis Head to Heinrich Klaasen. However, there is room for improvement in their bowling department, as they have struggled at times to contain opposition batters.
Predicted XIs
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad ©, Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mustafizur Rahman, Matheesha Pathirana
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins ©, T Natarajan, Mayank Markande, Jaydev Unadkat
Prediction
In their previous outing, the Chennai Super Kings suffered a narrow loss, coming tantalizingly close to victory. Nonetheless, they are keen on rectifying the errors in their bowling department that have plagued them this season.
Meanwhile, the Sunrisers Hyderabad are also reeling from a defeat against the Royal Challengers Bangalore and would be eager to bounce back in the playoff race. Anticipating a tough challenge from the Sunrisers, the prospect of the Chennai Super Kings facing consecutive defeats at the Chepauk Stadium seems likely.