Chennai Super Kings have been far from comfortable playing away from home this season. The reigning champions have won just one of their four matches on the road so far and were outplayed by the opposition in each of the three losses. With time not on their side and the team playing catch-up in the intense playoff race, Ruturaj Gaikwad-led CSK will have to improve their away record, starting with the clash against Punjab Kings in Dharamshala on Sunday.
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Super Kings (10 points from 10 matches) find themselves in must-win territory as they are two points behind Sunrisers Hyderabad (12 points from 10 matches), who occupy the fourth and final knockout spot.
A slip-up against Punjab – four days after going down to the same opposition in Chennai – could mean that top-four qualification may no longer be in their hands.
Moving into the most crucial phase of the league stage, Ruturaj’s form is a huge positive for CSK. The right-handed opener is on a dream run with five 50-plus scores in his last six outings. While Ruturaj is in glorious touch, he can still improve in certain areas – maintaining consistency away from home, making full use of the Powerplay at a time when his opening partner Ajinkya Rahane is struggling for runs.
The fact that the pitches at the HPCA Stadium provide good assistance to the batters should please Ruturaj and Co. After being dominated by spinners Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar, the middle-order batters, especially Shivam Dube, will be eager to exact revenge.
CSK are set to be bolstered by the availability of pacers Matheesha Pathirana and Tushar Deshpande, but will be without the services of Deepak Chahar. While Pathirana and Deshpande missed the last game with a niggle and flu respectively, Deepak limped off the field with a groin injury.
“Deepak has pulled up with a problem in his leg and is not with us. The Sri Lankan boys (Pathirana and Maheesh Theekshana) had to go to get their visas sorted. They did not train on Saturday. Once we see how the conditions are and the balance of the team, we will know (if they play). Tushar seems fine right now,” said CSK bowling consultant Eric Simons.
Punjab, who are on a two-match winning streak, will look to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The change of home venue from Mullanpur to Dharamshala could come as a welcome boost as the free-stroking PBKS batters may be better-suited to the HPCA Stadium pitch.
