Last Updated on 3 days by Charbel Coorey

CSK vs SRH Preview Dream11. Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Preview Dream11 Prediction

Last season’s finalists meet once again in a high-stakes clash.

Chennai Super Kings beat SRH four times in IPL 2018, but the absence of MS Dhoni last week proved a little too much. He returned from back spasms vs RCB, lighting up the Chinnaswamy and nearly pulling off an incredible chase. So, CSK have now lost two straight, and will be keen to get back on track as they return to Chepauk. They have won four out of four at home in IPL 2019 – can they make it five from five?

Sunrisers Hyderabad were tottering badly before a season-reviving win over CSK last week. They then swept aside KKR with incredible ease on Sunday, to move back into the top four with a game in hand over those ahead of them. Indeed, this game is of high importance for SRH as this is Jonny Bairstow’s last before leaving for England duty. Will SRH move up to third in the table?

Key to a CSK win

CSK are up towards the top of the table once again. However, this has been despite inconsistent batting at the top of the order. Shane Watson and Suresh Raina have been fighting for form all tournament, which could see Watson miss out here. With Khaleel Ahmed bowling very well for SRH in recent games, CSK need to make a good start, which was certainly not the case vs RCB. The onus is on the likes of Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina and possibly Sam Billings to keep SRH at bay early, setting a platform for the likes of Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo to play with freedom.

Also, can CSK’s bowlers get the better of SRH’s strong opening partnership? Deepak Chahar continues to prove he is one of the top powerplay bowlers in IPL, dismissing Virat Kohli last game in this period. It enabled CSK to keep RCB relatively under control, limiting them to 161 before their top order crumbled. With concerns remaining over SRH’s middle order, early wickets exposes them to CSK’s battery of spinners in home conditions.

Key to a SRH win

David Warner and Jonny Bairstow are the top two run scorers in IPL 2019. They have scored 71% of SRH’s runs this season, and remain central to their chances of winning games. They will want more of the same today as it is Bairstow’s last game, and to do so, they will have to overcome CSK’s efficient bowling in the powerplay. If SRH can finish their powerplay on top, the tone is set to play CSK’s spinners with confidence. However, to get the most out of their batting, SRH also need the likes of Vijay Shankar and Yusuf Pathan to step up in the absence of Kane Williamson.

Also, can SRH continue the pain for CSK’s top order? Dale Steyn and Umesh Yadav ripped through the top order in the powerplay last game, and if SRH can do similar, it opens the game right up. Khaleel Ahmed has eight wickets in his three games so far, and with Rashid Khan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowling well of late, SRH have the resources to keep things tight at all stages of the innings.

Possible Playing 11

CSK will now play three matches in a row at home. Harbhajan Singh has missed their string of away matches with a stiff neck, but could be fit to play today. Also, Shane Watson’s poor form has continued, so Sam Billings might get a run.

CSK: 1. Faf du Plessis, 2. Shane Watson/Sam Billings, 3. Suresh Raina, 4. Kedar Jadhav, 5. Ambati Rayudu, 6. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Dwayne Bravo, 9. Deepak Chahar, 10. Imran Tahir, 11 Shardul Thakur/Harbhajan Singh

Also read: Great players and rivalry to look forward to in World Cup 2019!

Update: Kane Williamson has flown back home for personal reasons. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will lead the side, with Mohammad Nabi or Shakib Al Hasan to come in.

SRH: 1. Jonny Bairstow (wk), 2. David Warner, 3. Vijay Shankar, 4. Deepak Hooda/Manish Pandey, 5. Mohammad Nabi/Shakib Al Hasan, 6. Yusuf Pathan, 7. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (c), 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Shahbaz Nadeem, 10. Khaleel Ahmed, 11. Sandeep Sharma

Dream11 Prediction

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Key stats and points:

• Both Jonny Bairstow and MS Dhoni are in fine form. Bairstow is the tournament’s second-most run scorer and scored 61* (44) vs CSK. However, in a high-stakes game, never rule out MS Dhoni stepping up.
• Faf du Plessis’ last three scores vs SRH: 67* (42), 10 (11), 45 (31).
• David Warner is a must-pick with four straight half-centuries (517 runs in nine matches in IPL 2019).
• Shane Watson has had an awful tournament, especially at home (56 runs in four matches). Vijay Shankar has also been in poor form with the bat recently (scores of 9, 16, 5, 26, 1 and 7).
• Kane Williamson is out, so Mohammad Nabi or Shakib Al Hasan is a good all-round option.
• Ambati Rayudu has an immense record vs SRH: 426 runs in 12 innings at 53.25 (SR 138.76).
• Dwayne Bravo has eight wickets in his last four matches, and 17 in 11 matches vs SRH.
• Deepak Chahar was expensive vs SRH last game. His overall record vs SRH is solid though, which includes 3/15 last season. Can he get the better of the SRH openers?
• Khaleel Ahmed in IPL 2019: Eight wickets in three games.
• Rashid Khan has taken at least one wicket in each of his last six matches.
• Imran Tahir took 2/20 vs SRH last week. Ravindra Jadeja averages 89.33 with the ball vs SRH, but has been in the wickets in IPL 2019.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 11, CSK 8, SRH 3.
• SRH beat CSK by six wickets last week.
• SRH have lost both their IPL games in Chennai.
• CSK are the only team to not lose at home in IPL 2019 (four matches, four wins).
• Worst vs best: CSK score at just 6.20 in the powerplay in IPL 2019. SRH, on the other hand, score at 9.07.

Match Prediction

Plenty rests on this game between last year’s finalists.

SRH have the chance to make it three straight wins, while CSK need to avoid three straight losses. At home, though, I believe CSK will have enough in the tank to get an important win.

Thanks for reading!