The 32nd game of the IPL will see the Chennai Super Kings take on the Rajasthan Royals at the Chepauk in Chennai. The Chennai beat Bangalore in the previous game to come out of the hiding and get to six points after having lost successive games. On the other hand, Rajasthan's four match winning streak was halted by Delhi and another loss here could peg them back further.

The Super Kings are in an unenviable position. They have six points from eight games and with only six more matches to play, they will know that they need to win at least four if not five or all of them to qualify for the semi-finals. That would mean that they need to start winning from this game onwards itself, but against them is going to be a side that they had lost to in the finals of the first edition of the tournament.

The Chennai Super Kings continues to suffer in their pace bowling department. It requires Muttiah Muralitharan and Shadab Jakati to bowl the side back into contention on most of the occasions and that has meant that the side has struggled to get going in the tournament. With Doug Bollinger expected to join the side soon, one is not sure whether he will be drafted into the playing eleven in this game or whether the side will need to wait for him. However, if he is ready and not as jet-lagged, then the Super Kings may want to play him in place of Albie Morkel.

Morkel has leaked runs like a tap, and it is time that his duties are reduced from a bowling all-rounder to a bits and pieces cricketer, who can bowl third or the fourth change.

For the Rajasthan side, the defeat to the Delhi Daredevils was a bitter one. The side had had the Delhi team on the roads with early wickets but they allowed Dinesh Karthik to get away with a sizzler. The bowling was found wanting as the runs leaked on both sides of the wickets, as Shaun Tait was one of the more guilty bowlers. One gets the sense that given the match will be played at Chepauk, the side may want to try out Johan Botha for the tournament.

This will allow them more control and whatever Botha will go for, it cannot be more than 40 runs in his four overs; something that Shaun Tait regularly been smashed for. Chennai's new found confidence will mean that they will go into the game as favourites.

Tag :- Chennai Super Kings   Dinesh Karthik   Johan Botha   Muttiah Muralitharan   Rajasthan Royals   Shaun Tait