IPL 2021 | CSK vs PBKS: Super Kings seek return to winning way to secure top-two finish

The Super Kings were described as a “ship with too many holes” by the skipper MS Dhoni in middle of the last season which was unravelling as their worst season in the history of the Indian Premier League. But that is a thing of history now for the Chennai-based side, how now are enjoying one of their best stretches of form in the competition.

From not qualifying for the first time in the history of the league, to becoming the first team to qualify for the playoffs, the Super Kings could not have written and executed a more perfect comeback. 

Their batsmen have not been at their best and instead, a lot of them are pale shadows of their former selves but they have found enough “spark” from the youngest player, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and reliability from the experienced pros such as Faf du Plessis and Ambati Rayudu to sail through the first round.

However, the stabilising ship has met two perfect storms in the form of defeats at the hands of the Delhi Capitals and the Rajasthan Royals. The fears that the bowling attack lacks any X-factor or that the batting is overly dependent on the few players played out worst for them in the last two games. First, the Royals took the game away from the game in the span of a few overs and made the bowling attack look average and toothless and then the Capitals reduced the batting unit into a non-performing asset.

The Super Kings were the first one to qualify and were certain to have a top-two spot on the points table but the back to back defeats have put a question mark on their dominance and have open the doors for the Royal Challengers Bangalore to snatch the advantage from them.

MS Dhoni was not too concerned about losing two consecutive games saying that losing one or two games in a long competition is accepted. However, if the Super Kings fail to finish in the top two, he will be the first to admit that they let a golden opportunity of having two shots at winning the trophy go off their grasp. 

He would hope that the players will be back to their best against their favourite opponent—the Punjab Kings in the next game to ensure top rankings.

On the other hand, there is nothing much to gain here for the Kings from the team’s point of view. However, from players’ point of view, there is everything at stake with a meg auction lined up later this year before the next edition and players might be watchful of their performances at a personal level.

The side have had a similar run of form to what they had in the recent editions and there was not enough consistency to enforce strong results in their favour, and as a result, they are out of the reckoning for the next phase. 

They have one of the best opening pair with the bat in KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal, one of the best young batsmen going around in T20 cricket in Nicholas Pooran, and one of the most promising and effective leg spinner in Ravi Bishnoi, but failure to put together a string of individual performances that can tilt pressure situations in their favour has marred their progress in last so many seasons and the 14th edition has been no different. 

If not for the last two losses for the Super Kings, this game would have been an inconsequential affair between the leader and the failure of the table, but as things stand now, it’s only the men in yellow who have stakes to lose from this game.

Match Details

Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings

Match no.: 53

Date and Time: October 7, 15:30 IST (10:00 IST), 14:00 LOCAL

Venue: Dubai International Stadium, Dubai

Pitch Report

The impact of wear and tear on the surface has started to appear on the pitches in Dubai and if the last game the Super Kings played at the venue is enough evidence to go by, the pitch at the Dubai International Stadium is turning out to be breeding ground for bowlers who rely on variations to outfox batsmen.

Both sides have enough arsenal in terms of bowling resources to reap the advantage out of a pitch aiding variations and batsmen are likely to have a tough time on Thursday afternoon.

Team News

Chennai Super Kings

The Super Kings have suffered a massive setback in the form of injury to Sam Curran and MS Dhoni will have to do the last game and the playoffs without the all-round brilliance of the Englishman who have become a vital cog of their success.

They had experimented with Robin Uthappa at number three in place of Suresh Raina and it is likely that the southpaw will come back into the side. However, there will flexibility in the batting order between him, Moeen Ali and Ambati Rayudu, who showed form with the bat in the last game against the Capitals.

The form of MS Dhoni will be a concern for the Super Kings but it seems Dhoni, the skipper has made peace with the end of Dhoni, the batsman and the Super Kings will find firepower from other quarters to challenge the Kings.

Probable XI

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood

Punjab Kings

The KL Rahul-led side will have limited objectives and opportunities going into the final game of the tournament and the side might stick to their last game citing tried and failed options in the dugout.

They don’t have injury concerns to ponder upon and the trio of Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Moises Henriques, who bowled immaculately well against the RCB should get another rope.

Probable XI

KL Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Sarfaraz Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Moises Henriques, Harpreet Brar, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh

CSK vs PBKS: Fantasy XI

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Mayank Agarwal, Shahrukh Khan, Moises Henriques, Shardul Thakur, Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Chahar

Captain: KL Rahul

Vice-captain: Ravindra Jadeja