Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

IPL 2020 Match 29: SRH vs CSK Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SRH vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report

The second-half of IPL 2020 gets underway, and the first instalment will be between two sides looking to get their tournament up and running. This one has the feel of “get a good score on the board and win the game”, given that both these teams have had their chasing difficulties in 2020.

Chennai Super Kings, required to chase in every match they’ve played, have won just two of their first seven games so far. With seven games remaining, there is time to resurrect their season, but time is running out given the strong form of the likes of Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. So, MS Dhoni’s men will be after a strong performance here to lift their season, after yet another middle order struggle last time out against RCB.

Sunrisers Hyderabad are also looking for their own lift. They looked to have a win in the bag against Rajasthan Royals, only to be Tewatia’d, with great support from Riyan Parag. Tempers flared at the end of the game, but SRH will have to pick themselves up quickly to get back into the top four after KKR’s heavy loss to RCB yesterday. They’ll back themselves against CSK – a team they beat 11 days ago, courtesy of Priyam Garg’s superb knock. Can they beat CSK again and put the second-most successful IPL side on the brink of departure?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• David Warner, while not at his absolute free-flowing best, has still been in the runs. He has scored 60, 52 and 48 in his past three innings, with 25+ in each of his last six IPL knocks. Also, Warner has an excellent record for SRH vs CSK: 339 runs, avg. 48.43.
• Jonny Bairstow was bowled for a duck by Deepak Chahar 11 days ago. So, if the ball swings tonight, can Bairstow deal with it effectively? If he gets through the powerplay, then watch out, as he has struck three fifties in seven innings in IPL 2020.
• Warner (275, avg. 39.28) and Bairstow (257, avg. 36.71) are fourth and fifth respectively in the Orange Cap race.
• Plenty will rest on MS Dhoni for CSK. He scored 47* (36) vs SRH earlier this season, part of a remarkable overall record against SRH: 11 inns, 378 runs, avg. 94.50, SR 158.16.
• A lot also rests on Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis for CSK. Watson has been in the runs in the past few matches, with 83*, 50 and 13 to his name. Plus, Watson enjoys playing for CSK vs SRH, with 311 runs in seven innings at an average of 51.80 (SR 155.50).
• His opening partner, du Plessis, has been outstanding in IPL 2020: 7 matches, 307 runs, avg. 61.40, SR 147.59.
• Can Ambati Rayudu provide the middle order stability that CSK craves? In seven matches for CSK against SRH, Rayudu has scored 249 runs at 62.25, including a century (SR 143.10).
• Manish Pandey is a crucial cog in the SRH lineup, and is coming off a solid 54 (44) vs RR last match. However, can he improve his underwhelming record vs CSK? (16 inns, 279 runs, avg. 19.93, SR 107.31). There is a chance he will, after looking really dangerous for his 29 (21) against CSK earlier this season.
• Kane Williamson, the finisher. The classy Kiwi batsman has struck 42 runs off his last 22 balls, without being dismissed (20* off 10 and 22* off 12). Also, Williamson has a fine record vs CSK, despite getting run-out cheaply against them earlier this season: 7 inns, 244 runs, avg. 40.67, SR 137.85.
• Can Sam Curran and Dwayne Bravo partner well to keep SRH’s lineup quiet? Curran had a poor outing vs SRH earlier this season (0/37), but can improve and provide value with the bat, too (SR 219.35 in 2020). Bravo has 15 wickets in 11 matches against SRH.
• As the pitches begin to slow down, Rashid Khan will become even more crucial. The star leg-spinner has taken a combined 9/85 in his last five matches, and will be raring to go after a crucial expensive last over against RR.
• Also, Rashid Khan has six wickets in seven games vs CSK, at an economy rate of just 6.50, including 0/12 (4) against them earlier this season.
• Shardul Thakur has been a positive in an other disappointing season so far for CSK. The seamer has taken seven wickets in four matches in IPL 2020.
• Deepak Chahar took 2/31 vs SRH earlier this season, and whether he can find early swing could be key to CSK’s chances. Overall, he has nine wickets in seven matches vs SRH.
• Khaleel Ahmed has taken 25 wickets in his last 14 IPL matches. However, can he improve on his ratio of one wicket in three matches for SRH vs CSK? His left-arm partner and leading yorker exponent, T Natarajan (seven wickets in seven games), will be key after a tough outing late on vs RR.

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 14, CSK 10, SRH 4.
• CSK need Ravindra Jadeja to fire as the pitches slow down. He scored 50 in his last game vs SRH, but struggles against them with the ball: 13 matches, 3 wickets, avg. 95.33.
• Priyam Garg was player of the match vs CSK earlier in IPL 2020, thanks to a superb knock of 51* (26) to turn the game.
• CSK score at just 6.90 per over in the middle overs, which is the second-worst in IPL 2020. They could look at bringing in a pinch hitter at this stage, such as Sam Curran.
• If Shane Watson can get through the powerplay, one can back him to get a good score. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, his nemesis, is out of the tournament, and Watson has a strong record vs Rashid Khan: SR 143, no dismissals.
• T Natarajan has bowled the most yorkers in IPL 2020 (29). To paint a picture, yorker specialist Jasprit Bumrah has bowled 15.
• David Warner needs 19 runs to reach 5,000 in IPL.

Possible Playing 11

SRH’s top four are key to their chances, but Priyam Garg showed that he can perform, particularly vs CSK.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1. David Warner (c), 2. Jonny Bairstow (wk), 3. Manish Pandey, 4. Kane Williamson, 5. Priyam Garg, 6. Vijay Shankar, 7. Abhishek Sharma, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Sandeep Sharma, 10. Khaleel Ahmed/Basil Thampi, 11. T Natarajan

Will there be room for Imran Tahir? Given Curran’s all-round potential and Dwayne Bravo’s good record vs SRH, it seems unlikely.

Chennai Super Kings: 1. Shane Watson, 2. Faf du Plessis, 3. Ambati Rayudu, 4. N Jagadeesan, 5. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 6. Ravindra Jadeja, 7. Sam Curran, 8. Dwayne Bravo, 9. Deepak Chahar, 10. Shardul Thakur 11. Karn Sharma

Dubai Pitch and Weather Report

The Dubai track certainly slowed signs of slowing down in SRH’s game against RR on Sunday. SRH worked hard to reach 158, before Rahul Tewatia and Riyan Parag produced gems to pull off a heist after RR struggled before that.

Even with RR’s successful chase, teams batting first dominate at Dubai in IPL 2020. In fact, teams batting first have won 10 of 12 games at this ground so far. And, when you consider that both these teams are best suited to setting a score, both captains could be really keen to win this toss. It could be crucial.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Match Prediction

Scores in the region of 170 have been difficult to chase at Dubai. Indeed, CSK has struggled in most of their chases so far in 2020, and SRH’s team is set up to set a score. So, the team batting first is favourite to take this match out, particularly if they can score in the region of 160-170 on a slowish surface.

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