Match 66 Preview: Everything to play for as Kings and Super Kings clash
In 2010, Chennai Super Kings needed to win their final game against Kings XI Punjab at the picturesque Dharamasala to make it to the knockout stage and it took a brilliant innings from an uncharacteristically emotional Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the eventual champions to make the cut. While the situation is strikingly similar for Dhoni & Co, the home side, Kings XI Punjab, too will have plenty to play for as the two side clash at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
The loss against Delhi two days ago now means that the Kings XI, apart from winning their remaining two home games, will also need some other results to go their way to qualify for the playoffs. Once again the bowlers produced an excellent spell with the new ball up front but an inconsistent line up and some shoddy catching undid the good efforts of the bowlers. The squad, which is largely inexperienced, has proved to be brittle when put under pressure and it will be up to the ‘non playing captain’ Adam Gilchrist to use all his experience to inspire the youngsters for the big game.
Be it the skipper himself or Albie Morkel or Dwayne Bravo. The Chennai Super Kings, almost as a rule, always find someone to get them out of a hole towards the business end of the tournament. The last ball win against KKR has kept them alive in the tournament and once again they are peaking at the right time of the season.
After six home games in Mohali, the KXIP base now shifts to Dharamsala. With the Dhauladhar range in the backdrop, the picturesque stadium, which is situated at over 1400 meters above the sea level, should see a high scoring contest.
Head to Head
The two teams have played each other nine times and quite predictably the Super Kings have been the dominant team, winning six of them.
Played -9, CSK -6, KXIP – 3
Players to watch out
Kings XI Punjab
David Hussey: While the rest of the KXIP lineup have had on and off days with the bat, the stand in skipper, with his consistency, has slowly become the batting mainstay for his side. But after the last game against Delhi, Hussey will realize that apart from scoring the run himself he will also have to inspire his partners to bat around him.
Azhar Mahmood: The veteran all rounder has been the go to man at key junctures with the ball but hasn’t quite set the tournament on fire with the bat. But with tall scores expected at Dharamsala, one can hope to see the former Paistani international roll back the years and use the long handle to maximum effect.
Chennai Super Kings
Mahendra Singh Dhoni: Cometh the hour, cometh the man. In the big games and pressure situations the calm Indian stumper is the best man to have in any side and CSK will be hoping for a repeat of his 2010 heroics.
Ben Hilfenhaus: The Aussie, since his inclusion in the playing XI, has been terrific with the new ball and his opening spell against an uncertain KXIP top order has the potential to be the decider.
Match Prediction
The Kings XI Punjab got better off their opponents in their last encounter at Chennai but given the track record of the Chennai Super Kings in crunch games, they should be the favorites to win the game and qualify for the playoffs.