IPL 5 Preview: Chennai Super Kings Vs Delhi Daredevils Match 59
Chennai Super Kings are set to play host to Delhi Daredevils on Saturday, May 12, 2012, in a game that could be crucial to the home team’s qualification to the play off round.
Having beaten RR in their previous game, CSK have improved their chances while denting RR’s. Though both RR and KXIP have a theoretical chance of qualifying for the play offs, RCB are the bigger rivals to CSK, being level on points while having played one match fewer.
While CSK have away games against Kolkata and Punjab after Saturday’s match at home against Delhi, RCB have home games against PW and MI apart from away games against DD and DC. So CSK’s best chance of qualifying for the knock out round is to try and win all the remaining games and hope that RCB stumble in one or more of their remaining ones.
Their win against RR would have boosted CSK’s confidence a world of good, with a sense of deja vu, having been in a similar situation in 2010 and eventually qualified to go on to win the tournament.
CSK’s batting is still a worry with Raina and Dhoni nowhere near the form they displayed in the previous editions of the IPL. The bowling has also lacked penetration with Morkel the sole exception.
Contrast that with Daredevils who steamrolled DC to scale 193 with nearly four overs to spare thanks to Warner’s belligerence. If Pietersen’s departure would have cheered DD’s rivals, Warner’s arrival hasn’t done anything to dispel the notion that DD are the team to beat in this competition.
DD are arguably the most balanced side, equally strong in batting and bowling and not relying on just a few players to deliver. Apart from Warner, Jayawardene and Sehwag can bat a bit, as can Ojha and Pathan. In the bowling Morne Morkel has been outstanding and he has received plenty of support from the likes of Nadeem, Yadav and Pathan.
On Saturday, Daredevils will be hard to beat. That said, desperation lends wings, and CSK should be the more hungry team, with qualification to the play off round at stake.
DD’s probable eleven: Warner, Sehwag, Ojha, Jayawardene, Nagar, Russell, Pathan, Morkel, Nadeem, Aaron, Yadav.
CSK’s probable eleven: Hussey, Vijay, Raina, Badrinath, Bravo, Dhoni, Jadeja, Morkel, Ashwin, Jakati, Hilfenhauz.
About the Author (Author Profile)
Jinxatious is the Chief Editor of SportingAttitude.com
An avid writer, on an eclectic range of subjects, he brings to bear editorial experience garnered with a national newspaper in South-East Asia. He also has sportscasting experience, as a cricket commentator, and his passion for sport extends beyond Cricket, to Football, Tennis, and Olympic Sports.
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