MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have carried their form from the first half of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 into the UAE leg – where the Yellow Army continues to be a force to reckon with. After registering a 20-run win against defending champions Mumbai Indians in the first match in UAE, CSK went on to win two more wins to emerge as one of the title contenders. CSK will now take on bottom-ranked Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday (September 30).
Both teams have had contrasting fortunes in IPL 2021 as while nothing has worked for the Orange Army this season, CSK have gone from strength to strength in IPL 2021 after failing to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2020 for the first time in the tournament’s history since 2008. While CSK occupy the top spot in IPL 2021 points table and are just one win short of qualifying for the playoffs, SRH have won just two out of ten matches this season.
In the match against SRH, CSK are likely to hit the field with an unchanged XI. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis have done a brilliant job at the top of the order and CSK would want their middle-order comprising Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu to score big knocks against SRH – who would be short of confidence. Ravindra Jadeja has been in sublime form for the Yellow Army and his batting has gone to an altogether different level which has done wonders for Chennai.
MS Dhoni hasn’t himself played the kind of knock he is known for and since the match will be played at Sharjah – which has shorter boundaries, CSK fans can expect one such knock from the iconic skipper.
