Sport

A test of character for Super Kings

— Photo: K. Pichumani

KEY MEMBERS: Chennai Super Kings’ Muttiah Muralitharan, Stephen Fleming and skipper M.S. Dhoni would like to seal their team’s place in the semifinals on Saturday.

Chennai: There were several lessons from Wednesday’s mess-up for Chennai Super Kings. The side lost momentum, went into a shell, lost wickets through poor shot selection and suddenly found it had too much to accomplish in the end overs.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men would certainly not leave their qualification for the IPL semifinals till the last game. Requiring a win in two matches, the side would strive to accomplish the job against Rajasthan Royals before the home crowd on Saturday.

Against an in-form side led by the inspirational Shane Warne, the host faces a test of character.

Super Kings has 14 points from 12 matches. Rajasthan Royals, 18 from 11, is already through to the last four stage.

Warne leads a side that has a wonderful blend of youth and experience. Would the side have the motivation to continue winning in the league phase? Could the vibrant Rajasthan Royals retain its intensity in a match of no great significance for it?

The legendary leg-spinner hinted that a couple of key players could be rested for the game. Warne spoke about the tough schedule in the tournament, on how his side required to play three more game in a short span in the league and possibly two matches in the knock-out phase.

Warne expected Super Kings to make it to the final. He said he would not want to reveal all his cards to the Chennai outfit on Saturday’s match. He quickly added, “We also know that this is a big game for Chennai, would not like to experiment too much.”

Super Kings, needing to lift its cricket by a level or two against a side that overwhelmed it in Jaipur, needs to be careful. Cricket can be unforgiving.

The side has to have its plans in place against a rampant Yusuf Pathan, up the order or in the middle. The batsman with lovely bat swing, tremendous bat speed, and the ability to pick the length early could cut loose again.

Yusuf can dismiss the length ball into the stands between long-on and long-off. If the bowlers counter this by pitching short, he can employ the cut and the pull. Yorker length balls outside the off-stump could be an answer.

The right-hander, given his back-lift, could find such a delivery hard to whip on the on-side from outside off.

Graeme Smith, a left-hander, could pose more problems for Super Kings’ attack.

The team from Jaipur has firepower in bowling too. Munaf Patel has bowled with control while Sohail Tanvir, with his quick-arm action, left-armer’s angles, and late swing has contained and struck.

The lively Shane Watson has been hugely influential with both bat and the ball. Siddharth Trivedi, with his consistency and movement, has been a revelation.

Two of the greatest spinners in the game’s history, Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, will parade their skills in the game’s shortest format.

And there will be duels within the contest. Dhoni could face off again against Warne. The big-hitter was consumed by a flighted leg-spinner in Jaipur. He would want to settle a score.

In a match starting at 4 p.m., chasing could be a better option.

The teams (from): Chennai Super Kings: M.S. Dhoni (captain), S. Fleming, P. Patel, S. Vidyut, S. Raina, S. Badrinath, A. Morkel, M.S. Gony, L. Balaji, M. Ntini, M. Muralitharan, J. Sharma, S. Anirudha, P. Amarnath, C. Kapugedera, K.B. Arun Karthik, A. Mukund.

Rajasthan Royals (from): S. Warne (captain), G. Smith, S. Asnodkar, M. Kaif, Y. Pathan, S. Watson, R. Jadeja, S. Trivedi, M. Rawat, S. Tanvir, M. Patel, S. Trivedi, M. Younis, K. Akmal, P. Singh, T. Kohli, D. Salunkhe.

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