IPL 2018: Match 20, Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings - Expectation vs Reality

Both these sides played a race among themselves during the first week of the edition for the No. 1 spot on the points table. Even now the race is on but as they step into the fixture, Kings XI Punjab hold that position. In the twentieth encounter of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018, Chennai Super Kings will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad at their home ground the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium. Both the sides have three wins and one loss to their name with six points but one will have an edge over the other and it is likely to be the home team.

Even though they lost their last match, Sunrisers have the edge against Chennai Super Kings because of their bowling. While CSK have been the best side batting at the death, SRH have been the best side bowling at death. SRH is perhaps the only team that could put an end to that streak for CSK. While Dhawan’s performance at top will be a major indicator for what happens when SRH bat, CSK will take pride in the rich form Watson has been in.

We have a few expectations from this match-up, do you too?

Raina special

He has returned to the team after a minor calf injury that forced him to miss a game and that will be a huge relief for CSK considering how strong a link Suresh Raina is in their batting line-up. Even though Raina has looked off-colour in the games he played, he showed glimpses of his usual self against Rajasthan Royals in the last match. His contribution against a formidable side like SRH will be crucial.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has had the better of him in the past so it will be vital for him to see off that threat. However, the threat does not end at Bhuvi. Billy Stanlake is one bowler who could trouble Raina and expose his problems against the short ball but the gut instinct suggests that Raina will survive that.

Consistent Sid Kaul

In all the games played so far, Siddharth Kaul has been a perfect complement for Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Billy Stanlake. He rose to the occasion even during Bhuvi’s absence where he took 2/29 against Mumbai Indians. So far, he has picked 6 wickets and looks well set for a successful season ahead.

Expect his consistency to translate against CSK too where he continues to contribute with a couple of wickets and provide a cushion to the bowling attack of SRH. If Bhuvi is not able to get the likes of either openers Watson or Rayudu early on, CSK can race away with a good start considering they are both in good touch. Kaul will have to make sure that they don’t.Stanlake bowling a short to Raina with pace over 145+ scenes needed.

The reality check after the match is here:

Rayudu show

Well, Raina did put on a show but that was more of a second fiddle kind of show. He ended up scoring an unbeaten 54 off 43 balls. However, it was Ambati Rayudu who stole the limelight eventually with his 37-ball-79. Despite his changing batting position in the league, he has managed to step up for his side in whatever role he was asked to deliver in.

He came in to bat at No. 4 today and stepped up one more times as both the openers were sent back into the hut early in the innings. This knock may perhaps be the best IPL knock he has played so far. He gave time to Raina to make sure he was settled and did the attacking job himself. By the time he was run out, CSK was in the driver’s seat.

Off-day for SRH bowling

Neither Sid Kaul was consistent, nor Rashid Khan, nor Billy Stanlake. Rashid Khan, in particular, was taken to the cleaners making it his second consecutive poor outing with the ball. Apart from stumping Faf du Plessis in the first ball itself, he was hit for 49 runs by CSK. Stanlake seemed to have troubled Raina initially, as we expected, but he also saw off the threat and was later hit for 38 runs with no wickets.

Kaul was hit for 33 runs without a single wicket whereas Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who did not complete his quota of 4 overs, was hit for 22 runs. Shakib Al Hasan also failed to chip in as he conceded 32 runs as well. It was a rare off-day for the bowling unit and in the end, the difference of four runs is what really got the better of them.

For all the latest cricket news and other details follow CricTracker.