If Sunrisers Hyderabad boast of a strong well-rounded bowling attack, Chennai Super Kings can stick their necks out and announce that they have the best batting line-up. Both teams clash in Hyderabad and the contest promises to be a spicy affair more so because of the contrasting depths and areas of strengths of both the sides.
Barring any injury concerns, both the teams look fairly settled and both captains seem to well aware of the different roles assigned to different players.
Also read: IPL 2018: Match 20 (SRH vs CSK) – Probable XI Fantasy
We now take a look at the player battles, which in many ways will define the eventual result of the match.
Deepak Chahar vs Shikhar Dhawan
After a slightly innocuous start, young Deepak Chahar hit his stripes perfectly in the match against the Rajasthan Royals where he extracted some genuine swing and seam movement.
Also, he gave enough indications of his other skills and used the knuckle ball and bumper to good effect.
However, he will be up against one of the form players in India at the moment in Shikhar Dhawan and after retiring hurt in the previous match against Kings XI, Dhawan will be keen to get going in this match. How he copes up with the moving ball and then how he decides to score runs off Chahar will be keenly watched.
Imran Tahir vs Kane Williamson
The presence of Imran Tahir has allowed MS Dhoni to attack and go for wickets in the middle overs. On the other hand, Kane Williamson is proving to be the anchor in Sunrisers batting line-up and when these two players face off the battle promises to be a riveting one.
While Tahir will bowl attacking line and lengths and will keep on hurling in variations, Williamson’s calm demeanour and the ability to pick out gaps will be very interesting.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs Shane Watson
Perhaps, this contest in the powerplay will define the result of the match. Shane Watson will take guard after smashing a century and will be feeling nice and positive.
And he will be up against Bhuvneshwar Kumar, perhaps the most complete bowler in the league. While the right arm bowler can get the ball to hoop around if conditions suit him, he also the ability to mix and match his lengths and pace to befuddle the batsmen.
Billy Stanlake vs Suresh Raina
For all his prowess and panache in the IPl, Suresh Raina is still hassled by genuine pace and by that ball which is aimed for this throat and this is where Kane Williamson will toss the ball towards big Billy Stanlake as soon as Raina takes guard.
The Australian was rested in the previous match owing to a slight niggle and he should walk into the team if fit, which means Raina’s work will be cut out. However, Raina has found a way to tackle short-pitched stuff, but how will he deal with Stanlake’s extra pace will make for an interesting viewing!
Shakib al Hasan vs MS Dhoni
There is this theory going around which states that MS Dhoni tends to struggle against left-arm spin and that he stutters while facing them.
Although Dhoni seems to be in fine form, Williamson will look towards Shakib when Dhoni is at the crease to tie him down and then prize out his wicket.
Shakib is a canny operator and he knows how to keep a leash on batsmen, but then Dhoni with all his experience will look for solutions to come out trumps.
This battle between the veterans is certainly one to keep an eye on!
