Can Delhi Daredevils halt comeback Chennai Super Kings?

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From being tied down by reputation and doubt filled leadership in the league stage to playing fearless cricket in the first eliminator, Chennai Super Kings have made the distinct transition that the other teams were cagey of.

Delhi Daredevils have lost a fair bit of momentum coming to the second qualifier to be played here on Thursday while Chennai suddenly look the champion side they never were earlier in the competition.

Both units are blessed with their set of unique strengths. Delhi’s top-order can make mockery of a large target and also fail pursuing a simple task.

Their asset has also been their liability for long. Seldom does Delhi lose a close game; they either outplay or get outplayed.

Virender Sehwag, David Warner and Ross Taylor are all match winners in their own right but it could all boil down to the calming influence of Mahela Jayewardene to hold the innings together.

Delhi made the error in judgement of going in with a solitary spinner in Pune. The conditions are not dissimilar here and a definite tweak in team composition is expected. Chennai have no such problems as far as slow bowlers go.

Shadab Jakati and R. Ashwin provide quality and Dhoni has the added advantage of pressing Ravindra Jadeja and Suresh Raina into service when the situation demands.

The express pace of Morne Morkel and Umesh Yadav is likely to be negated on this strip. Change of pace and variations will hold a bigger say.

Delhi have been one dimensional in both departments and a touch of flexibility would help them do well. T20 cricket is not all slam bang as S. Badrinath and Mike Hussey proved against Mumbai.

What looked like massive problems areas for Chennai looked to have vanished in one win. All bases look covered as they prepare to take another step toward making their fourth final in five years.

Lack of runs from Suresh Raina is one worrying factor but the left-hander is capable of changing things in a jiffy.

There is nothing much to choose between the two teams. Both are sprightly on the field as well. It could all boil down to which side plays the middle overs better.

Chennai have proved past masters at it while Delhi have floundered on the big stage often. This will be a final chance to rectify their poor record in the play-offs.

In a format where prediction is anyway a futile exercise, to pick a straight winner will be difficult even for the sharpest of cricket minds.

Delhi had a practice session under lights while Super Kings decided to rest as they arrived from Bengaluru only late evening on Thursday.

Key player: Chennai Super Kings, MS Dhoni

When the CSK skipper is in this frame of mind it is near impossible to stop him. Chennai will be hoping for an encore while Delhi will be praying for Dhoni’s early exit.

Dhoni will be the trump card especially if the hosts are to bat first and set a challenging target as chasing will not be an easy task on this wicket.

Key player: Delhi Daredevils, David Warner

The opener must have good memory of this venue, one where he dismantled CSK in the Champions League with a hundred.

If Warner can hold himself a little and not try to exceed himself, then Delhi will have many reasons to smile. Warner’s opening salvo with Virender Sehwag will be pivot on which the game will turn.

Quote unquote

T.A. Sekar (Delhi mentor)

On the loss to KKR: Our last three overs did not go well. Our batting order needs to be assessed and we have done that. We have got a strong batting line-up and I back all our batsmen to put up a much better show.

On the combination against CSK: We have not thought about it. We had a look at the wicket and a decision will be taken after the team meeting.

On playing Chennai at MAC: It’s a home away from home for me, actually and I know the conditions very well, the wicket looks good and it’s T20, the wicket, unless it’s a rank turner. We need to put a better show here.

On playing an additional spinner: Our strength has been fast bowling and we have been able to restrict teams. In T20 fast bowlers do get hit sometimes.

Even spinners can be hit quite freely, it doesn’t mean spinners can’t be hit. We have to take stock of the situation and do the needful.

On Irfan Pathan’s fitness: He batted last match as well and he’s fit to play on Friday.