Will the real CSK show up against rejuvenated Sunrisers?
Ambati Rayudu and Dwayne Bravo have recovered from their injuries and are available for selection
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In the news
Likely XIs
Strategy punt
- Teams have chosen to chase 36 out of 55 times after winning the toss in Dubai since 2018, though teams batting first have had a slight edge, winning 29 of the 55 games. Teams have opted to field in all four matches at this venue in this IPL season, usually keeping the dew factor in mind, but have ended up on the losing side all four times. Will we see a change in this game?
- Watson has great numbers against the Sunrisers, with two fifties and a century in his last five games against them. However, he has an average record against Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the IPL, getting out to him three times and striking at just 94. If he survives the opening burst, though, he would look to attack Rashid Khan, who hasn't gotten him out in the 10 innings they've come face-to-face in. He also strikes at over 140 against the legspinner, so Sunrisers would want Bhuvneshwar to do the job up front.
Stats that matter
- Warner has the best frequency of 50-plus scores for a batsman in the IPL - he gets past the half-century mark once every 2.69 innings. He's gone three innings without a fifty this season, though, and if he fails to score one against the Super Kings it will be his longest streak of not making a 50-plus score since moving to the Sunrisers. However, he has an outstanding record against the opposition, with half-centuries in each of his last five innings against them.
- According to ESPNcricinfo's ball-by-ball data, the Sunrisers fast bowlers have bowled 16 yorkers in their three games so far - T Natarajan executed them particularly well in their win over the Capitals. None of the other teams' quicks, however, had bowled more than six each as of September 30.
- Dhoni needs to clear the ropes twice to become the third Indian to tally 300 sixes in T20s.
- Manish Pandey needs 69 runs to become the 12th Indian batsman to reach 3000 runs in the IPL.
Sruthi Ravindranath is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo