Chennai: Four wins, including all three at home, and three away losses. This is the story so far of five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the current edition of the lucrative IPL.
After losing to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday night, CSK lions are back at its own den and are ready to roar, when it hosts the same opponent at the M.A.Chidambaram Stadium here on Tuesday, in its fourth match at its home, where it has an all-win record in this edition thus far.
Following the stunning loss after both the batsmen and the bowlers failed to click as a unit despite fine cameo in the end by iconic M.S.Dhoni that brought the team to 176 for 6 when asked to bat first at Lucknow, the home team will be keen to avenge the loss, banking on the home advantage on the morrow.
It was the bright opening stand led by LSG skipper K.L.Rahul and the south paw Quinton de Kock that took the game away as CSk lost by eight wickets with an over to spare.
CSK Coach Stephen Fleming minced no words in admitting that the team was comprehensively beaten and that the opening stand by LSG batters made the difference in the end.
He also said that LSG bowlers picked wickets at regular intervals, the CSK bowlers had failed to do so.
He was also all praise for Dhoni's little cameo.
Despite suffering from a nagging knee trouble, Dhoni could bat for a brief while, say two to three overs, and his contributions are valuable and vital. He is happy and content with it and wanted the other batters to take up the responsibility of putting up totals on the board.
Ajinkya Rahane , who had started opening with Rachin Ravindra, impressed in his brief knock. Dropping himself at No.3 skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad was in good form with two half centuries.
After quick dismissals of Rachin Ravindra and Shivam Dube, the impact player and the finisher, who was in fine nick, it was left to all rounder Ravindra Jadeja's half century and Dhoni's final flourish that brought a semblance of respectability to the total.
But it proved too inadequate in the end as LSG romped home in a canter.
While the home advantage favours CSK, which is eyeing for its fourth straight win, LSG too will be keen to keep up its winning momentum and further consolidate its position with an eye on the play-offs as the tournament reached the half-way stage.
However, the conditions are different at the Chepauk Stadium. Adapting to the scorching heat and the energy sapping conditions with the mercury level raising, and the slow wicket which is expected to aid the spinners, will be the key for the visitors.
And the CSK team's think-tank knows the condition by the back of their palm.
CSK is placed fourth ahead of LSG in the points table. And both the teams, which have played seven matches each and has four wins and three losses, will be involved in an engrossing battle to outwit each other to stay in the hunt for the knock outs.
