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Super Kings faces a fresh challenge

S. Dinakar

Chennai: Chennai Super Kings is on a roll. In a format where predictions can go haywire, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men have won four in a row.

Dhoni, so far, has made all the right moves and Super Kings leads the DLF-Indian Premier League race with eight points.

Come Friday and the side faces a fresh challenge As it will be without three influential cricketers — Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey and Jacob Oram. The trio leaves the IPL scene for the season owing to international commitments.

The powerful Hayden has been solid and strokeful. In a Twenty20 game, he can so easily bat through an innings playing the way he does.

The Super Kings could have Stephen Fleming batting up the order. But, unlike the big-hitting Aussie, Fleming is a clever manipulator of the ball with the precious ability to read situations.

Of course, Super Kings has the option of replacing Hayden with one of the young domestic openers, S. Anirudha or S. Vidyut. In such a scenario, Fleming could don Hussey’s role in the middle-order.

Cool customer

Hussey is not averse to taking calculated risks but still plays the percentages better than most and is cool at the crunch.

It would be impossible to replace giants such as Hayden or Hussey, but Dhoni has already indicated that he is willing to shoulder more responsibility by promoting himself up the order. In Super Kings’ favour is the fine form of the skipper and the flamboyant Suresh Raina. S. Badrinath’s ability as an innovative strokemaker is also under-rated.

Dhoni’s effort in Bangalore was awesome. Said the Super King’s Director of Cricketing Operations V.B. Chandrasekar, “He’s unique in the manner he plays some of his strokes. I and Kepler Wessels (the team’s coach) spoke about how he dealt with a delivery from Dale Steyn, a yorker on the leg-stump. Most batsmen would have played it to fine-leg or square-leg. Dhoni sent the ball rocketing to the mid-wicket fence.”

Another left-hander

If Dhoni surfaces earlier, Albie Morkel could be used as a heavy-hitter down the order. Morkel is another left-hander in a line-up dominated by southpaws that has already disrupted the line and rhythm of several attacks.

While batting was always going to be Super Kings’ strength, its bowling has been the success story of the competition so far.

Oram found the right length in the last two games and turned the game on its head against Kolkata Knight Riders. But then, Makhaya Ntini is bound to add greater sting to the pace attack.

Manpreet Goni has been a revelation with his control and change of pace, while Joginger’s ability to get the ball to skid off the surface and deliver yorkers at the death is of immense value to the side. Thrust into the big league, Palani Amarnath has displayed good temperament apart from the ability to send down cutters and back-of-a-length balls. Morkel’s medium pace can be a useful back-up.

Priceless Murali

Of course, Muttiah Muralitharan with his spin, flight and deception, has been priceless for the Super Kings. The off-spinning wizard of exceptional accuracy has this ability to bowl in any stage of the game.

Dhoni has relied on his five frontline bowlers in all the matches so far, which is a healthy sign. The skipper’s confidence has rubbed off on his men.

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