Chennai look to regain winning form against a buoyant Delhi Capitals

Chennai Super Kings will look to regain their winning form when they take the field for their third game of the season in as many venues. Their opponents for the night, the Delhi Capitals, will be buoyed by their Super over win, a game which they would feel they got out of jail in.

The flat tracks and short outfields of Sharjah might not have quite suited Chennai’s game-plan, but the bigger outfields of the Dubai international stadium might bring some much-needed respite from the six-hitting fiesta that Sharjah proved to be. We might not see MS Dhoni hit a ball into the streets, but the Chennai bowlers will be thankful for a venue where they can bowl without the fear of disappearing out of the park every other ball.

Speaking of Dhoni, his batting position became a bone of contention following his own demotion to no.7 in the loss to the Rajasthan Royals. But, Dhoni attributed the decision to a lack of batting form coming into the tournament and a 14-day quarantine which he reckons made matters worse. With Ambati Rayudu expected to miss tonight’s game as well, it remains to be seen if Dhoni will decide to shuffle the batting pack and promote himself to play an anchor’s role. Dhoni did show glimpses of his hitting prowess that has become expected of him in the last over of the game. Meanwhile, Faf Du Plessis’ consistency and ease with which he has scored in the first two games will provide comfort to the Chennai dressing room.

Delhi Capitals may have needed a late-order flourish from the Aussie all-rounder Marcus Stoinis to resurrect their batting innings, but a team brimming with talented Indian batsmen would not be expected to fail every day. The encouraging sign for Delhi would be the fact that they could put up a defendable score from 96/6. With Stoinis’s providing the calming effect at no.6, the power-packed Delhi top-order full of attacking ability would be that much more confident to be expressive of their abilities.

The fitness of Ashwin will be a matter of concern for the Capitals on the eve of their second game in the Dream 11 IPL, but even if the offie from Chennai does not quite prove to be fit in time, Delhi have ample replacements in their squad to make up for his loss. After all, not every team can say that they have the second-highest wicket-taker, Amit Mishra, waiting in the wings to take over in Ashwin’s absence.

While the Chennai Superkings will be eager to get back to winning ways, Delhi’s aim will be to build on a winning start. With both teams looking equally dangerous, the game promises to be one which will tilt one way by the smallest of margins.