Over to a new chapter!
After T20 WC euphoria, Team India begin search for next generation of champions
After T20 WC euphoria, Team India begin search for next generation of champions
Thursday’s washout in Hyderabad meant that Sunrisers Hyderabad joined Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals as the three confirmed teams for the playoffs and the race is now for only one spot with two teams in fray -- CSK and RCB.
The Super Kings are currently fourth in the standings with 12 points from as many games but the defeat against Gujarat Titans on Friday has added pressure on them, and they now find themselves in a must-win situation in their remaining two matches.
Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will be hoping to make up for the loss of their frontline bowlers, and take forward the ‘bowling’ positives from their last fixture when they take on a struggling bottom-placed Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.
With 10 points from nine matches so far, the Yellow Brigade share similar figures with Lucknow Super Giants, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals, and as such will be desperately looking to break away from the logjam
CSK’s batting has so far revolved around skipper Gaikwad, whose second IPL century, the other day, came in a losing cause, and the in-form Shivam Dube, who once again impressed with yet another fifty.
Both sides head into the match with contrasting fortunes, as the CSK brigade are coming off two successive victories, and are comfortably placed at the third position in the IPL points tally with four wins from their six outings so far.
During the last two IPL seasons, Dhoni had subtly prepared him to take charge, and after every match, Gaikwad would sit down with CSK head coach Stephen Fleming and discuss what he would have done had he been in charge.
In the last three meetings, Delhi Capitals have been humiliated by heavy margins of 91, 27 and 77 runs, respectively by the Chennai franchise, and thus a win against the five-time IPL champions on Sunday, could come as a morale-booster for Rishabh Pant’s men.
This will be the second season when the CSK franchise will open their campaign without Dhoni as the skipper. Earlier, the Super Kings had given the captaincy to Ravindra Jadeja in 2022 but the left-arm spinner stepped down midway through the tournament following a series of losses and handed back the leadership role to Dhoni
