Super Kings target misfiring Sunrisers
Match facts
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)
Big picture
On the surface, this game could be billed as a clash of contrasts. Successful side v middling unit. Settled v shaky. But such labels, although accurate, don't always dictate T20 narratives.
Chennai Super Kings have been characteristically steady with their selections and just as professional in closing out games. But, as Rajasthan Royals showed, Super Kings aren't the unbeatable overlords they have been in the past. After playing the same XI in seven straight games, their hand was forced by R Ashwin's injury. However, Pawan Negi and Ronit More proved Super Kings' healthy bench strength, and they will likely get some more game time.
Sunrisers Hyderabad, meanwhile, have been fiddling with their overseas players when not fretting over a weak middle order. Their problem at the start of the tournament has persisted beyond the halfway stage: David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan still have to carry their team's batting with their Indian domestic batsmen not following their brief.
There is a good chance that only one of Ravi Bopara and Moises Henriques may play, and a specialist batsman may come in. But with Sunrisers you can never tell.
Form guide
Sunrisers Hyderabad WLWLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Chennai Super Kings LWWWL
Watch out for
While people were fussing over Trent Boult and Dale Steyn, Bhuvneshwar Kumar quietly worked his way up to the top of Sunrisers' bowling charts. Besides his nine wickets, his economy rate of 6.70 is also the best for Sunrisers this season. It will be interesting to watch how Super Kings' agro-oozing openers counter his curvy swing.
It's inevitable that Suresh Raina will be measured against his tall standards. Given the numbers he has amassed for Super Kings, scores of 4, 62, 29, 17 and 8 don't make for great reading and he will look to correct the anomaly. In Ashwin's absence, MS Dhoni might need Raina to bowl as well.
Stats and trivia
- Super Kings defeated Sunrisers by 77 runs in the only match the two teams have played at this venue.
- Sunrisers have fielded 18 players so far in this IPL. Only Mumbai Indians (19) have played more.
Quotes
"We don't [panic]. And that is all because we have a very level-headed captain and coach. In our team we have four international captains and that helps too."
Chennai Super Kings allrounder Dwayne Bravo
Arun Venugopal is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo