Mumbai: Chennai Super Kings
will welcome the return of star all-rounder Moeen Ali as they eye a much
improved batting performance in the IPL clash against Lucknow Super Giants here
on Thursday.
Both the teams come into the
game after a loss in their respective opening matches. A common factor in their
defeats were the failure of the top-order and they would be looking to correct
that at the Brabourne Stadium.
It is still very early days in
the two-month long IPL but the toss is already playing a significant role in
the game's outcome. With the second innings dew in mind, teams are preferring
to put the opposition in.
The losses for CSK and LSG
came after batting first at the Wankhede. Conditions are not expected to be
very different at the nearby CCI ground with heavy dew likely to set in the
second half of the game.
Lucknow skipper KL Rahul and
star opener Quinton De Kock had a forgettable outing on Monday and they would
be keen to get some runs under their belt. Rahul needs to lead from the front
with the IPL presenting a big test for his captaincy skills.
Seasoned campaigner Manish
Pandey and Evin Lewis, who is a hard-hitting batter, on their day can take any
attack to cleaners, had a forgettable outing and the team management would hope
that they come to the party.
Lucknow would be pleased that
their middle-order comprising Deepak Hooda, debutant Ayush Badoni and Krunal
Pandya clicked when their top-order collapsed and the trio would again need to
shoulder the responsibility.
But it was the Lucknow
bowling, which would need to quickly forget the hammering they received at the
hands of Gujarat. While pacer Dushmantha Chameera was right on the money,
co-pacer Avesh Khan leaked 33 runs in 3.4 overs.
Also the role of spin trio of
Ravi Bishnoi, Hooda and Krunal, could decide the match's fate.
CSK would also look to put up
a much better show with the bat after they managed only 131 in the first game.
With Moeen Ali, a pinch-hitter available for selection alongside Dwaine
Pretorius, they would indeed heave a sigh of relief.
In the first game, save a
vintage Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the other batters faltered - be it Ruturaj
Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, Devon Conway or Ambati Rayadu.
New skipper Ravindra Jadeja
would also be keen to get a big score individually and ditto for Shivam Dube,
who is racing against time to prove his worth on the IPL stage.
But it remains to be seen who
CSK leave out to include Moeen, who can come in at number three.
While all-rounder Dwayne Bravo claimed three wickets against KKR, others leaked runs and all of them would need to fire in unison. (PTI)
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