CHENNAI: When in Chennai, you must beat the Chennai Super Kings at their own game. Teams have learnt this the hard way, and the scenario will be no different for the Delhi Capitals, who have to win on Wednesday to stay in contention for a playoff berth.
The pitch is likely to be sluggish and spinners are expected to rule the roost, which means DC's frontline tweakers Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel need to measure up against CSK's spin troika of Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali and Maheesh Theekshana at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
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Kuldeep and Axar have had lukewarm success with the ball in the tournament so far, picking up eight and seven wickets respectively. But more than the dismissals, their ability to slow things down and keep the likes of Shivam Dube, Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad at bay when they come after them will be critical.
Considering the conditions they will get here, especially if they end up bowling first, the visitors might be tempted to include a third spinner in the XI in the form of 26-year-old offie Lalit Yadav. While Axar's bowling will be important, his role as a batter will also be extremely crucial. He is one player who can deal with spinners on these surfaces and DC can think of promoting him up the order.
It will be interesting to see if CSK, who will look to close in on a top-two berth, will alter their arsenal in any way if they have to bowl second, when the dew could become a big factor. Batting coach Michael Hussey said the team management will certainly mull it over.
The home team has missed the services of talismanic allrounder Ben Stokes for a major portion of the tourney as he was sidelined by a toe injury after playing just the first two games.
Hussey confirmed that Stokes is now fit and available for selection, and has not been featuring in the playing XI for the last few games because of the nature of the surface and the corresponding team combination.
1/10:CSK vs DC IPL 2023: Chennai face resurgent Delhi at home
2/10:CSK look to get closer to playoffs
<p>Chennai Super Kings enter the final lap of the ongoing Indian Premier League's preliminary phase, looking to beat back the challenge of a resurgent Delhi Capitals in Chennai on Wednesday and get closer to a play-off berth.<br /><br /><br /></p>
3/10:CSK eye two points against struggling DC
<p>CSK returned to winning ways with a convincing victory over Mumbai Indians and would be hoping to pick up two more points against the DC, who have struggled in the tournament for the most part.<br /></p>PTI
4/10:CSK top-order in fine form
<p>The Super Kings trumped MI in a low-scoring game last Saturday with the bowlers, Matheesha Pathirana in particular. The chase was wrapped up without much ado, with contributions from Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway and Shivam Dube.<br /></p>
5/10:CSK middle-order needs to fire
<p>The CSK middle-order hasn't fired as much as the think-tank would have hoped for. The experienced Ambati Rayudu (95 runs in 11 games) and Ravindra Jadeja (92 in 11 games) haven't got going, making for a floundering middle-order.<br /></p>IANS
6/10:Dhoni has done his bit so far
<p>Skipper MS Dhoni has managed the cameos expected of him whenever he has got in. The team will be hoping that the middle-order is not put to test in a crunch game.<br /></p>PTI
7/10:CSK expect more from big-hitting Dube
<p>The big-hitting Shivam Dube has so far collected 290 runs (from 9 innings) and will be eyeing bigger contributions in key games.<br /></p>IANS
8/10:Deshpande’s economy rate hurting CSK
<p>Tushar Deshpande with 19 wickets so far has done a fine job but his economy rate of 10.33 and giving away runs at crucial junctures has hurt CSK at times. The captain would like him to be more thrifty with the ball.<br /><br /><br /></p>AP
9/10:DC would be way of Pathirana
<p>Slinger Pathirana will be keen to continue the good run, like against MI. Pathirana will be one bowler the Capitals, including the aggressive Phil Salt, who shone in the team's last game, would be wary of.<br /></p>PTI
