Match Watch – Constant vs change: Stable CSK take on new-look Daredevils

McCullum will look to continue his aggressive brand of batsmanship with CSK. (Source: PTI)

Chennai Super Kings

In 2014, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) did what they do without fail every IPL season, making it to the business end. But for once, they fell at the penultimate hurdle to Kings XI Punjab after having featured in the grand final for four straight years — winning the first two. Like they do at the start of every edition, CSK look primed to be there at the Eden Gardens on May 24.

Strengths: Speaking of CSK’s strengths this season, we could just stop at one name—Brendon McCullum. The pocket-dynamite from Kiwi land showed in the World Cup that he knows only one way to play — attack, attack, attack. To the extent that he set up numerous victories for New Zealand despite batting past the 10th over only once. And in tow with Dwayne Smith, McCullum’s abilities to annihilate bowling line-ups will only get doubled.

Chennai’s biggest advantage has been the continuity in their ranks. Their core has remained the same for almost the entire duration of the IPL, which has made them the most reliable team even in this fickle format. MS Dhoni still finishes off matches in a blaze, R Ashwin ties up opposition line-ups into knots while Suresh Raina chariots the juggernaut in talismanic fashion.

Weaknesses: On the face of it, Chennai don’t have any obvious weaknesses staring at you, except maybe the pressure of expectation. Ravindra Jadeja’s form and his dicey shoulder could be a potential headache.

Delhi Daredevils

The Delhi Daredevils have only won 5 matches out of the last 30 that they’ve played in despite their owners’ incessant spendthriftiness. They have easily been the most disappointing of IPL outfits. This despite possessing a gamut of super talents in their mix. Somehow they’ve never clicked as a unit, have occupied the bottom spot for two seasons running, and in fact looked comfortable holding the wooden spoon. Can they at least climb up one spot this season?

Strengths: Delhi spent Rs 23.5 crore to rope in Yuvraj Singh and Angelo Mathews. They in fact spent more than what they’d get to win the title on Yuvraj alone. While the former World Cup hero still remains a destructive commodity in T20 cricket, it’s the Sri Lankan captain who could turn the fortunes around for the beleagured Daredevils. New skipper JP Duminy will bank on the wicket-taking abilities of Imran Tahir and Mohammed Shami to provide the bite to an otherwise toothless bowling attack.

Weaknesses: Yuvraj hardly justified the Rs 14 crore RCB paid for him last year. Will he do justice to the additional 2 crore that Delhi have invested in him? Looks unlikely, whichever way you look at it. And how can a team that has gotten used to losing so often, and so miserably that too, pick themselves up and learn the art of winning. Yuvraj apart, their batting hardly inspires confidence even on paper. The same could be said about a majority of their foreign picks.

Irfan picks up injury, to sit out first game

Chennai: Injuries seem to be a permanent companion of India discard Irfan Pathan as the Baroda all-rounder has again reported unfit even before the ball has started rolling for Chennai Super Kings.

Pathan has again sustained an injury and chief coach Stephen Fleming confirmed that the left-arm seamer will not be available for selection against Daredevils. “Irfan Pathan is not fit. Another pacer Andrew Tye is also carrying an injury. They won’t be considered for selection at this stage,” Fleming said.

Source:: Indian Express