Wounded teams clash for win at Chennai

Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Thursday, April 12th 4 pm
M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings clash at the Chepauk stadium in Chennai today, two proud teams coming off defeats, eager to get back on the winning side.

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings have just one win in their three games, against a weak Deccan Chargers side while Royal Challengers Bangalore come in after being comprehensively outclassed by the Kolkata Knight Riders at home.

AB de Villiers masked the RCB’s batting failure against Delhi but they were laid exposed against the relentless waves of accurate and hostile bowling from Kolkata. The temperamental Mayank Agarwal and the out of touch Saurabh Tiwary coming in to stem a collapse at no. 5 and 6 is not a reassuring sight and the team may want to tinker with the line up if not bring in Dilshan to add to the firepower.

Bringing in Dilshan might however see Murali sit out, an acquisition who knows the Chepauk pitch intimately, having played for Chennai in the first three years of the Indian Premier League. The other option is to just put behind Tuesday’s collapse and trust the likes of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and de Villiers to come good.

To add to their woes, they will play at a venue they lost two high profile games last year. The side had also lost their league game at Chennai previous year albeit it was before Gayle joined.

They will be helped by the knowledge that Chennai’s much vaunted bowling attack has come up a complete cropper in their first three games. The 2 million dollar man Ravindra Jadeja had one good game running through a clueless side for a five wicket haul but has been pedestrian otherwise. Doug Bollinger, Dwayne Bravo and Albie Morkel have been erratic and expensive while R Ashwin and Jakati have been hugely ineffective.

The bigger surprise is Chennai’s batting failure. Murali Vijay has barely lasted through the powerplay overs while du Plessis and Raina have squandered starts. Badrinath, Bravo, Morkel and Jadeja were brilliant against Deccan but as dismal as Dhoni in the other games which have seen Chennai post two of the lowest totals in the tournament.

RCB’s bowling which mastered a superb comeback against KKR to rein them in will fancy their chances against the CSK line up in this current form. Dilshan if he comes in could be handy with his offspin as will be Gayle.

The question remains as to which team will seize the initiative first and hold on as two line ups of great pedigree take on each other. The earthquake and tsunami may have given Chennai a miss but it’s not sure if a Gaylestorm will.