Chennai Super Kings will take on the Kochi Tuskers Kerala in the 64th game
of the Indian Premier League. The two teams are at different positions
in the points table and while both will want to win this game, it will be for
different reasons each.
For one, the Chennai Super Kings will need to win this game in order
to ensure that they can finish in the top two positions in the points table.
Currently, they have 16 points with two matches to be played. One points above
them are Bangalore with 17 from 12, and they share that spot with Mumbai Indians
who have 16 from 12. Essentially if Chennai can win both their games, that will
mean that the Super Kings will end in the top two spots which will allow them
to go ahead into the final with a little more ease than usual.
Click for Live Score Card of Chennai Super Kings Vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala
However, if the Super Kings lose this game, they will be left with needing a win
over the Bangalore side in their last game of the tournament for the two sides
- that is not going to be easy for them.
What the side will need to do is to continue with the basics that they have been
doing so far and given that the side has not yet lost a single game at home, it
will not be an easy battle for their opponents.
Moving to the reason why Kochi would want to win this one. Barring the obvious,
Kochi need to win both their remaining games to have an ourside chance of going
through to the next round. for that, the Knight Riders have to lose both their
games and they need help from their net run rate as well but the fact is that
the Kochi side cannot think about all that. They just need to win this one.
Tuskers will have a new skipper in Parthiv Patel, who will look to ensure that
he can get the side together once Mahela Jayawardene has flown away.
It will be particularly hard on Patel to captain the side for two games alone
but such is the nature of the beast.
Kochi will rely on S Sreesanth for the early breakthrough and Brendon McCullum
to get them the runs. On the other hand, Chennai need Murali Vijay to
fire.
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