CSK Aim for Breakout Win Against Unpredictable Punjab Kings
Gaikwad on Fire, Dube a Force, But Opening Woes Remain for CSK
When the inconsistent Punjab Kings visit the inconsistent Chennai Super Kings in their Indian Premier League game on Wednesday, the former must show all-around stability.
With 10 points from nine games, the Super Kings are on par with some of the other clubs, and a victory would undoubtedly help the defending champions escape the mid-table deadlock.
The Punjab Kings, who have six points from nine games, are heading into this match after chasing down 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders, the biggest chase in T20 cricket history, thus the defending champions should be very concerned.
However, the Chepauk deck is a different animal, providing some help to the bowlers, as demonstrated by CSK's commanding 78-run victory over SRH in their most recent game.
That night, there was no dew in Chennai, and the CSK bowlers, after their batsmen piled on a 200-plus total, defanged the SRH batting unit with their accuracy and variety.
Against Punjab, they need a comeback, and all eyes will be on their fiery captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.
In his past two innings, Gaikwad has scored 108 and 98 runs, and Daryl Mitchell of New Zealand also seemed to have found his form at the ideal moment as he scored 52 off just 32 balls against Hyderabad.
But Shivam Dube, who entered the game as an Impact Player and has since crushed the opposition bowlers, is the true force in the CSK lineup.
Although Dube has always been a spin-basher, his ability to effectively tackle pacers has allowed the left-hander to add another dimension to his hitting.
Dube has scored 350 runs thus far, which is second most for CSK behind Gaikwad's 447. His strike rate of 172.41 is second only to MS Dhoni's 259.45.
Still, the CSK opening combination is a little questionable. Although Gaikwad has been a reliable player, neither Ajinkya Rahane nor the recently discarded Rachin Ravindra have been able to provide their captain with the necessary backing.
The results of Rahane's previous four appearances as the opener—5, 36, 1, 9—do not accurately represent his level of expertise or ability.
Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Press Time staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.
