Will CSK field young-guns in a must-win match?

Expectations are high among the fans of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as it takes on Mumbai Indians (MI) in a must-win game on Friday at Sharjah in the ongoing IPL-XIII.

Thrice-champion CSK has looked a pale shadow of its former self this season, winning just three out of 10 matches so far, thereby placed last on the points tally. Neither are Dhoni’s strategies paying off (in fact, they are back-firing) nor has CSK’s usual fighting spirit come to the fore. Dhoni is hugely criticized for not playing Imran Tahir ahead of Dwayne Bravo (ruled out of the tournament) in the earlier matches.

A few changes in CSK in the offing

Dhoni hinted after CSK’s below-par performance against RR that he would ‘test’ younger players in the remaining fixtures. A few changes are, therefore, expected in CSK’s final XI against MI, placed comfortably in points-tally. A win would not only assure MI a place in the play-off stages but also sweet revenge for defeating it in the opening encounter. No doubt, Rohit Sharma-led MI would like to settle the scores!

Sharjah match promises to be a run-fest as in the past. The team batting first would look to post at least 200 to put pressure on the chasing side. CSK has invariably failed in doing so when it batted first here. MI lost its last match against KXIP in Sharjah in two ‘super overs’; as such both CSK and MI would love to register a win here.

Time for CSK to deliver

A captain can only be as good as his team members: it is high time senior/junior players realized the pressure on the franchise and delivered accordingly for CSK. Mumbai is strong in batting, bowling and fielding and CSK can’t afford any lapse at any stage of the game. Watson, du Plessis, Rayudu, Dhoni and Jagadeesan besides Jadeja have to fire in unison as team effort is needed for victory. Sam Curran could come down the order; regular openers should realize their roles and play well.

MSD’s batting needs some ‘spark’ to prop up CSK. Shardul, Chahar and Hazlewood are bowling well but it would be better if Kedar is axed as he does nothing.

MI keen to win against CSK

MI started off with a loss (as it had done many times in the past) but has improved drastically ever since. MI is a perfect mix of capable players, tailor-made for each slot. Hardik and Pollard can tear apart any bowling attack on any day. Onus is on CSK to stop the MI juggernaut. CSK needs to win badly on Friday at least to keep its fans’ interest in the remaining matches!

Expected XI:

CSK: Watson, du Plessis, Rayudu, Jagadeesan, Dhoni, Jadeja, Deepak, Shardul, Chawla, Hazlewood and Tahir

MI: Rohit, de Kock, Suryakumar, Ishan Kishen, Hardik, Krunal, Pollard, Boult, Bumrah, Rahul Chahar and Coulter-Nile.

Images Courtesy: BCCI IPLT20.com