On a three-match winning streak, Chennai Super Kings will look to seal their play-off berth when they take on an erratic Kings XI Punjab in a crucial preliminary match of the IPL, on Thursday.
The tournament in its final leg, there is a mad scramble to bag the three available spots in the top-four to make the play-off cut after table-toppers Delhi Daredevils became the first team to qualify with 20 points from 14 matches.
Chennai, playing their last league match on Thursday, are on the fourth spot after eight wins and six losses that left their points tally at 17.
Kings XI Punjab also have an outside chance of making the play-offs provided they win both their remaining matches and some results go their way. Punjab are currently seventh in the list with seven wins and an equal number of losses.
Led by stand-in captain David Hussey, KXIP have the daunting task of beating tough teams such as Chennai and Delhi Daredevils.
Opener Mandeep Singh has been the prolific scorer for his team and Australian Shaun Marsh, former Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood and young South African David Miller too have shown that the home side’s batting has depth.
But the defeat against Delhi in the away match would have surely affected the team’s morale.
Medium pacers Praveen Kumar, Parvinder Awana and Mahmood who can bat as well, have done a decent job in the bowling department and the team’s fielding, too, has improved as the tournament has progressed.
Chennai, on the other hand, have gained momentum as the tournament approaches its business end. They upstaged Kolkata Knight Riders in their previous match and that in front of a packed Eden Gardens.
And Chennai would be eyeing revenge against Kings XI Punjab for handing them a loss in front of their home fans last month.
Teams:
Kings XI Punjab: Adam Gilchrist (Capt.), Bipul Sharma, Paras Dogra, Harmeet Singh, Siddharth Chitnis, Love Ablish, Piyush Chawla, Amit Yadav, Parvinder Awana, Stuart Broad, Azhar Mahmood, Bhargav Bhatt, Ryan Harris, Vikramjeet Malik, Paul Valthaty, Sunny Singh, Shalabh Srivastava, Rajagopal Sathish, Nitin Saini, Nathan Rimmington, Abhishek Nayar, David Miller, Mandeep Singh, James Faulkner, Praveen Kumar, Shaun Marsh, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Ramesh Powar.
Chennai Super Kings: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt.), Michael Hussey, Murali Vijay, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Srikkanth Anirudha, Dwayne Bravo, Albie Morkel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ben Hilfenhaus, Shadab Jakati, Doug Bollinger, Francois du Plessis, George Bailey, Scott Styris, Suraj Randiv, Abhinav Mukund, G Vignesh, Joginder Sharma, Kuthethur Vasudevadas, Subramaniam Badrinath, Sudeep Tyagi, Yo Mahesh and Wriddhiman Saha.
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IPL Season 5 Play Offs Contenders…
As we all are watching the IPL games for the past one month the high profile teams are doing reasonably well to reach playoff’s stage but at this point of time some crucial matches being played and some interesting results makes 5 edition of IPL a very interesting one!
Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore have played a big role in spicing up the race for the playoffs. A big win over Kolkata Knight Riders featured a significant landmark for Rohit Sharma and an excellent start to Herschelle Gibbs’ IPL season, giving Mumbai Indians reason to not tinker with their opening combination again. They are currently third in the points table and can go at least one spot up should they beat Royal Challengers, and reach a position of relative safety vis-à-vis the playoffs.
Royal Challengers have won three in a row, including a nine-wicket demolition of Mumbai Indians last week, and would be desperate to keep that run going. After facing Mumbai Indians, they take on toppers Delhi Daredevils – not the ideal team to be facing in the event of a must-win scenario or being at the mercy of net run-rates. Mumbai Indians are a formidable opponent themselves, and Royal Challengers, currently No.5, will do well to push them back to a position of insecurity.
Chennai Super Kings kept their playoff hopes alive with a ruthless performance that cut the table-leaders Delhi Daredevils to size. Super Kings shook Daredevils out of their comfort zone.
My favorite team in IPL 5
Rajasthan Royals are the only reason I am watching any IPL this year. And that is because of my tremendous love, affection and admiration for Dravid.
While a lot of teams with good sprinkling of big names have underperformed, the majority of Royals’ unheralded players have put their best foot forward. No team has beaten them easily, and they have shown tremendous fight. And tactically, they have been very good. They have trusted their players, stuck with them and given them reasonable chances without any constant chopping and changing. Dravid and the management have shown tremendous faith in good Ranji performers like the hat-trick hero Ajit Chandila, Ashok Menaria, Ankeet Chavan, Pankaj Singh and Stuart Binny. And it has been a joy to see a visibly-relaxed Dravid lead the team. Dravid has led admirably, and more importantly led from the front.
They’ve had a couple of very close games. Like the one in Delhi where they threw away the win from their hands.Royals have shown this season they’re a tough team to play and hope they make it to the playoffs. Full credit to Dravid for a good leadership…even the last game against CSK was almost won. I wish they had won couple of matches that they lost after dominating for almost 18 over’s. They have some good domestic players and are giving them a chance to play with and against some great international players unlike some of the teams which only rely on their international stars.
Now then, Can they make the playoffs? Their hopes are hanging yes, not by a thread but by a rope. I fancy Royals to win their next two games. With no disrespect to Pune Warriors and Deccan Chargers, I expect Royals to beat them. And this would leave them with 16 points with a game against Mumbai Indians left. They would not mind playing the last league game of the season at home knowing that a win would put them in the playoffs (considering their good NRR). Mumbai Indians have been very inconsistent, and Royals have a realistic chance of beating them. I won’t be surprised if they make it.
RR is my team for this IPL. It makes me proud to be an RR-supporter and let’s hope that RR makes it into the playoffs! I do sincerely hope they win out and qualify.
CSK eye playoff berth as they face Kings XI Punjab!
Chennai Super Kings, flying high on a three-match winning streak, will look to seal their play-off berth when they take on an erratic Kings XI Punjab in a crucial preliminary match of the IPL, in Dharamsala on Thursday.
With the tournament in its final leg, there is a mad scramble to bag the three available spots in the top-four to make the play-off cut. Table-toppers Delhi Daredevils became the first team to qualify with 20 points from 14 matches.
Chennai, playing their last league match on Thursday, are on the fourth spot after eight wins and six losses that see them with 17 points.
Kings XI Punjab also have an outside chance of making the play-offs provided they win both their remaining matches and some results go their way. Punjab are currently seventh with seven wins and an equal number of losses.
Led by stand-in captain David Hussey, KXIP have the daunting task of beating Chennai and Delhi Daredevils.
Opener Mandeep Singh has been the prolific scorer for his team. Australian Shaun Marsh, former Pakistani all-rounder Azhar Mahmood and young South African David Miller too have shown that the home side’s batting has depth.
But the defeat against Delhi in the away match would have surely affected the team’s morale.
Medium pacers Praveen Kumar, Parvinder Awana and Mahmood who can bat as well, have done a decent job in the bowling department and the team’s fielding, too, has improved as the tournament has progressed.
Chennai, on the other hand, have gained momentum as the tournament approaches the business end. They upstaged Kolkata Knight Riders in their previous match and that in front of a packed Eden Gardens.
And Chennai would be eyeing revenge against Kings XI Punjab for handing them a loss in front of their home fans last month.
Teams (from):
Kings XI Punjab: Adam Gilchrist (C), Bipul Sharma, Paras Dogra, Harmeet Singh, Siddharth Chitnis, Love Ablish, Piyush Chawla, Amit Yadav, Parvinder Awana, Stuart Broad, Azhar Mahmood, Bhargav Bhatt, Ryan Harris, Vikramjeet Malik, Paul Valthaty, Sunny Singh, Shalabh Srivastava, Rajagopal Sathish, Nitin Saini, Nathan Rimmington, Abhishek Nayar, David Miller,
Mandeep Singh, James Faulkner, Praveen Kumar, Shaun Marsh, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Ramesh Powar.
Chennai Super Kings: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (c and wk), Michael Hussey, Murali Vijay, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Srikkanth Anirudha, DWayne Bravo, Albie Morkel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ben Hilfenhaus, Shadab Jakati, Doug Bollinger, Francois du Plessis, George Bailey, Scott Styris, Suraj Randiv, Abhinav Mukund, G Vignesh, Joginder Sharma, Kuthethur Vasudevadas, Subramaniam Badrinath, Sudeep Tyagi, Yo Mahesh and Wriddhiman Saha.
Match starts 4pm.
Chennai Super King’s will win today.
I hope CSK thrash KXP today and close the door for RCB and RR.
Dhoni is determined to avenge the defeat at Chennai. Now it is the turn of Punjab to receive the defeat!
as sreenivasan is the owner and big boss of bcci csk will definately win the match and will play the finals.hehehehehe
CSK will win and will be CHAMPIONS FOR THE THIRD TIME …CSK ku oru periya whistle podu!