Chennai: Stung by a humbling defeat to Rajasthan Royals in their opener, Chennai Super Kings return to familiar territory on Friday, hoping the comforts of home can steady an early wobble. At the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, where expectations are as high as the humidity, CSK will look to quickly move past a night to forget and put on a show in front of their supporters.
There had been a quiet buzz and renewed intrigue around the squad following the arrival of Sanju Samson. But the opening match served as a harsh reality check, suggesting little had changed from the previous season, when they finished rock bottom. Against the Royals, CSK were outplayed, outthought and, at times, outclassed. A stunning assault from 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi laid bare the frailties in their bowling attack.
Injuries have not helped CSK’s cause either. M.S. Dhoni’s calf issue has ruled him out for two weeks, while also offering an opportunity to test the bench strength. Dewald Brevis’ side strain has further compounded their problems. His absence forced a rethink in the batting order, with Australia’s Matthew Short drafted in, but his outing was fleeting. CSK’s top order faltered badly, limping to 41 for four in the powerplay and leaving too much for the middle order to repair.
The lone resistance came from England all-rounder Jamie Overton, whose fighting effort pushed the total into three figures and lent some respectability to an otherwise underwhelming display. Brevis is unlikely to return, having missed the training on the eve of the match. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad also confirmed that Dhoni will remain on the sidelines for two weeks.
Back at Chepauk, changes appear imminent. The surface and conditions are expected to favour spin and CSK may well recalibrate their combination accordingly.
“A lot depends on the weather. I feel there was not much dew during the World Cup games in February. In good conditions, the Chennai wicket usually plays well, but at night, if there is excessive dew and moisture, it tends to change, especially in the second half of the innings. So, we are not really sure how it will behave this year,” Ruturaj said.
Punjab Kings, meanwhile, arrive with momentum. Skipper Shreyas Iyer shrugged off a wrist scare in their opener, while IPL debutant Cooper Connolly made an immediate impact. Batting at No. 3, the Australian looked anything but new, crafting a composed 72 off 44 balls and guiding Punjab to a tense chase against Gujarat Titans with five balls to spare.
Punjab assistant coach Brad Haddin said Shreyas is nursing some swelling but is expected to be fit for Friday’s clash.
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