Chennai look to move closer to playoffs

CHENNAI: With an aim to make it to the playoffs as early as possible, Chennai Super Kings will go all out against Delhi Capitals when they take on the David Warner-led side at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday.

The match is being billed as Chennai’s spinners against Delhi’s mercurial overseas batting talents. CSK spinners Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali and Maheesh Theekshana have been bowling in tandem and testing the best of batters in the tournament with their guile.It will be interesting to see how Warner, Phil Salt and Mitchell Marsh handle the spinners.

CSK got back to their winning ways with a convincing victory over Mumbai Indians and would be hoping to pick up two points against the Delhi Capitals who have struggled in the first part of the tournament.

Delhi Capitals lost their first five games on the trot, but have won four of their last five games after that and are now in with a shot of joining the mid-table. Capitals are still placed last on the points table, but as things stand, there is only a three-point difference between them and third-placed Lucknow Super Giants.

To keep their chances alive, Capitals must first get past Wednesday’s hosts, something they have failed to do often. Delhi have beaten CSK in Chennai only on two occasions in eight attempts, the last being in 2010.

”I think they have got a few stars in their lineup. Any team that has the likes of Warner, Marsh… Ishant Sharma is also a quality player as well, so they have been in good form and they have won four out of their last five matches. So they are coming here with a bit of confidence,” said Michael Hussey, CSK batting coach.

Ben Stokes has been batting and bowling in the nets, but even if he is fit and ready to play, it will be difficult for CSK to play him as team dynamics is such. Devon Conway, Ali, Matheesha Pathirana and Theekshana are the four first choice overseas players right now and they have been doing well.

Shane Watson, part of CSK as a player in the past, is looking forward to an exciting tussle.”Yeah, it’s a great time to come here and play in Chennai, it is an incredible atmosphere here and it’s going to be a great battle tomorrow (Wednesday) night,” the current Delhi assistant coach said.