After the huge letdown in their opening game when they lost to Mumbai Indians in the last over, Chennai Super Kings have their task cut out when they take on a buoyant Nashua Cape Cobras in the Champions League T20 tournament, in Chennai on Wednesday.
The Super Kings tripped against Mumbai, who dug themselves out from a precarious position to snatch a dramatic victory to end the host team’s streak of eight consecutive wins at Chepauk. The defeat was one more in a lost list this summer for skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni whose Indian team had lost all seven international matches in England.
The Super Kings, who are keen to achieve a second consecutive double of IPL and Champions League titles, would need to play far better if they hope to notch their first win in the current competition as the Cobras are understandably on a high following their commanding win against New South Wales Blues in Chennai on Saturday.
On the positive side for Super Kings, opener Michael Hussey is in top form and his knock of 81 held the innings together against Mumbai and the champions could have posted a bigger total but for the freak dismissal of Suresh Raina at a time when the talented southpaw was beginning to open out.
Further, a few blemishes, notably the stumping miss by Dhoni allowed Lasith Malinga to prosper and play an unlikely match-winning knock, as also the skipper’s decisions in not giving his most economical bowler, Raina, more than two overs.
However, in the past, the Super Kings have displayed a rare ability to bounce back from far worse positions than they are presently in and need to show the same resilience to get back to their winning ways on the morrow.
The Cobras, who came into the tournament after a successful domestic season, looked the part against the Blues and have an enviable all-round ability matching that of the Super Kings to go all the way in the tournament.
The South African champions were not really tested by the Blues, but against the Super Kings, it will be a different ball game altogether given the home team’s array of talent.
The Cobras would be counting on their bowling spearhead Dale Steyn besides the top order batsmen like openers Herschelle Gibbs and Richard Levi to come good against the Super Kings.
For the hosts, it is a must-win game to stay in the race for the semi-finals spots and have it in them to reverse their fortunes as in the past.
