The 46th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 sees Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai tonight at 7:30 PM IST.
The defending champions enter the contest on the back of two consecutive defeats against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). They have currently occupied fifth place on the points table with four wins from eight matches.
SRH, meanwhile, suffered a 35-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their previous outing. Despite the loss, they remain in a strong position, sitting third in the standings with five victories under their belt in eight games played.
Furthermore, Sunrisers hold a psychological advantage over Chennai as the former beat the latter by six wickets, earlier this season.
CSK, known for their consistency, haven’t quite hit their stride yet. Their opening partnership has been a cause for concern. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has led by example with 349 runs, but concerns remain around the form of the other top-order batters. The talented Rachin Ravindra has only managed 133 runs at an average below 20, while Ajinkya Rahane hasn’t found his touch either, scoring 161 runs at an average of 23. Finding solutions at the top of the order is crucial for CSK’s playoff aspirations. The middle order has been propped up by Shivam Dube‘s impressive hitting with 311 runs at a strike rate of 170. MS Dhoni, the veteran finisher, continues to be a dominant force in the death overs, scoring at a strike rate of 260.
On the bowling front, Mustafizur Rahman leads the attack with 12 wickets. However, his economy rate of 10 runs per over is a cause for concern. Matheesha Pathirana has been impressive with 11 wickets at an economy of 7.6. Tushar Deshpande (six wickets), Deepak Chahar (five wickets), and Ravindra Jadeja (four wickets) have provided decent support.
SRH have enjoyed a fruitful season with the bat. Their batting unit boasts a strong core, capable of putting up any total or chasing any target. The trio of Travis Head (325 runs), Abhishek Sharma (288 runs), and Heinrich Klaasen (275 runs) have wreaked havoc on opposition bowling attacks this season, striking at a rate of more than 200.
The bowling department has also performed well for the Orange Army. T Natarajan leads the wicket-taking charts with 12 scalps, ably supported by the skipper Pat Cummins (10 wickets). Mayank Markande (eight wickets), Jaydev Unadkat (seven wickets), and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (four wickets) have all played their part in SRH’s success.
Despite regularly conceding 200+, SRH’s bowling has yet to be truly tested while defending totals between 160 and 180. This could become a concern later in the tournament if they experience a batting collapse.
Head-to-Head:
Historically, Chennai holds the upper hand in head-to-head encounters, having won 14 of the 20 IPL matches between the two sides.Â
However, SRH’s recent form and victory in their previous meeting add intrigue to this high-voltage clash.
Where-to-Watch:
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