Today’s Match : Kochi Tuskers Kerala Vs Chennai Super Kings
In a clash of southerners, Kochi Tuskers Kerala take on defending champions Chennai Super Kings at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in the Indian Premier League (IPL) here on Monday.
On paper, Super Kings start the match as the firm favourite, particularly after having regained its winning touch against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday.
Super Kings have the depth in their batting and a variety in their bowling attack and the easy win over Royal Challengers Bangalore was an example of their strength.
Against new entrants Kochi Tuskers, they will be looking forward to yet another good display from Mike Hussey and M. Vijay at the top and the batsmen to follow, in a line-up which includes the gritty Suresh Raina, Dhoni himself, Albie Morkel and S. Badrinath.
And to contain the Tuskers batsmen, Super Kings should again be pinning its hopes on Albie Morkel, Tim Southee, R. Ashwin, Suraj Randiv and Shadab Jakati besides its part-time bowlers.
But despite their strengths, Super Kings will be wary of Kochi Tuskers, who beat Mumbai Indians for its first win in the tournament at the packed Wankhede last week.
The losses against both RCB and Pune Warriors had been close.
But against Sachin Tendulkar’s Mumbai Indians, Tuskers never panicked despite being left to chase well over nine runs an over after the Master Blaster scored his maiden Twenty20 ton.