 The 31st game of the Indian Premier League will be played between the Chennai
Super Kings and the Pune Warriors India. The game will be a home match for the
Pune Warriors and will be played at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
The two teams had played each other on Monday. This is thus, the second time that
two teams in this edition of the IPL will be playing against each other in back
to back games. earlier, Kolkata and Rajasthan had played each other in such back
to back games.
Click for Live Score Card of Pune Warriors Vs Chennai Super Kings
Now, the issue with that kind of a schedule is that the two teams would be tired
playing on Monday in Chennai but now both will need to fly to Pune for a Wednesday
game and play each other again. This play, travel, play, travel schedule will
hit the teams hard in terms of fitness and all.
The Chennai Super Kings had won that game against the Pune Warriors
at home. The side scored only 142 but successfully managed to defend and much
of the credit needs to go to the manner in which the side fielded.
There were at least 15 runs saved in the field in that game by the Super Kings
and to go with a couple of superb catches that the side took, there was no way
that the side would be able to chase down the score.
For this game, both teams will need to look hard at their batting. After all both
the sides had struggled with their batting in the previous game. One gets the
sense that the Super Kings will not be looking to change their batting in any
way given that Dhoni does not fiddle with a winning combination as it.
It also means that the likes of Murali Vijay, who hasn't had much to write
home about after the initial knock or two and Suresh Raina, who has failed
miserably in the tournament so far will need to come to the party given that
the tournament is fast approaching its mid-point.
The Pune warriors have a strong batting line-up on paper but have barely managed
to get going after their first couple of wins. Yuvraj Singh has been moderate
while someone like Jesse Ryder hasn't scored. Even Robin Uthappa needs
a big one from his bat.
Chennai will be favourites again.
|
