IPL 2015: The perfect Super Over combinations

Welcome to cricket’s most lucrative casino. When nothing can be separated after a match of twists and turns, each team must stack their chips on red or black and hope; their fate left in the hands of the Super Over roulette. It’s the sport’s best answer to a lottery.But in even the most condensed version of the game, can wily plans and strategic nous serve to give one team that decisive edge over the other? As far as this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) teams will be concerned, yes, they can. After all, what use is a multi-crore purchase if they can’t pull some extra-time duties once in a while?Here is a list of the perfect Super Over combinations for each IPL team, eight quartets who can do their utmost to enhance their franchise’s prospects of success, if not guarantee it.

#1 Chennai Super Kings

Batsmen: 1. Brendon McCullum, 2. MS Dhoni, 3. Suresh Raina

Bowler: Ashish Nehra 

In a six-ball innings, not utilising Kiwi thrasher Brendon McCullum would be a travesty. His explosiveness ensures the Super Kings wouldn’t waste deliveries and his versatility makes it a nightmare for the opposition to set a field. MS Dhoni would be a towering partner at the other end. The captain has been struggled lately, but Dhoni is still Dhoni, it would be madness not to include him in such a scenario.

Few clear the fence with such regularity as Suresh Raina – as shown in his 62 against Bangalore on Wednesday – and the left-hander would be a well-advised pick should one of the two get out.

Ashish Nehra would be a good man to have on the bowling front. It’s an unwanted job, but the fast bowler has performed competently so far in the tournament and would be unlikely to crack under pressure. With the strength of CSK’s batting, providing Nehra isn’t clobbered all over the park, they would fancy snatching the win.