Delhi Daredevils are all geared up to take Chennai Super Kings on their home turf. Delhi Daredevils have been running out of luck this season. They could have won their last three matches but destiny denied them the favour. But against CSK, they would be looking to turn the tables with the help of their captain Mahela Jayawardene and Virender Sehwag who are looking in decent touch. However they need to bat for longer duration especially when Chris Morris and Dirk Nannes will be bowling their overs. CSK is having S Badrinath and Ravindra Jadeja who can play a crucial role but Umesh Yadav and Shahbaz Nadeem would be looking to wind up as soon as possible.
Here we bring before you the players to watch out for of Delhi Daredevils and Chennai Super Kings.
Delhi Daredevils
Virender Sehwag: Sehwag can make a significant difference in the outcome of this match if he starts to get those flurries of boundaries in the power-play. He was looking in decent touch in the last match but he failed to capitalize. Playing on home ground should help him to get back into form which DD need very badly at this stage of the tournament.
Mahela Jayawardene: Jayawardene scored 28 runs in last match and is looking in good form. He just needs to bat at the opening slot and things might change for DD. He has always been the key because of his ability to hold the innings together and it’s time for him to show his mettle.
Umesh Yadav: Yadav bowled brilliantly in last match. Though he got hit for two sixes in super-over but still he was their best bowler as he ended up with the figures of 2/22. Yadav will have to outplay the opposition with his slower ones as most of the CSK batsmen have failed to do so up till now.
Kedar Jadhav: Jadhav has played some sensible knocks till now and he needs to play up the order with Manprit Juneja. Jadhav score 29* in last match and took the total to 152 which was looking almost next to impossible for DD.
Shahbaz Nadeem: Nadeem has been the most economical bowler for DD till now but he needs to be amongst wickets if DD have to win the match. He can be the trump card for DD in today’s match especially if they bowl first.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
MS Dhoni: Dhoni is in good form but he needs to bat up the order to make his innings more valuable to the team. It'a an important match for CSK as if they lose this match then they will be under some serious trouble. This season has turned out to be much more competitive than the previous seasons which will make their road much tougher as the tournament progresses.
Chris Morris: Morris has been the find of this season for CSK but using him in late overs is not a very wise decision. It will be better that Dhoni make him bowl in tandem with Nannes as both are quite consistent with their pace and line of attack.
Dirk Nannes: He has that ability to keep nagging the batsmen by bowling in right channel which might be very handy against Virender Sehwag. He went for plenty in last match against Pune Warriors but player of his calibre can be very lethal on the seamer-friendly wicket and a fragile middle-order.
S Badrinath: Badrinath is looking in brilliant touch since the last two matches but he needs to convert his good starts into big scores. He has that ability to shift his gear and play till the end but he needs to implement it more frequently as the bar of competition has been raised tremendously in this season of IPL.
R Ashwin: Ashwin has been looking slightly off-colour in last few matches but he would be looking to pick up some wickets in this match to set him up for the much more close contests that are yet to come.
By Amit Chopra
Indian Sports News Network
