IPL 2015: Inconsistent Kolkata Knight Riders Face Stiff Chennai Super Kings Challenge
Chennai Super Kings, who have won five of their six matches are placed second this season of the IPL and will take on Kolkata Knight Riders, who are in third spot with three wins and two losses in their six matches. One was washed out. The tams clash in Chennai on Tuesday.
Enduring an erratic campaign so far, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders face a stiff challenge when they take on the smooth-sailing Chennai Super Kings the IPL here Tuesday. (Points Table)
KKR are currently placed third on the points table with three wins, two losses and one abandoned match. CSK, on the other hand, have lost only one game in six outings and are steady on the second position.
The Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side, dominating on home turf, are coming off a massive win over Kings XI Punjab in which they thrashed the team by 97 runs. If the big names in Chennai's batting order, like Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina and Dhoni, have come good in trying times then the bowling has also risen to the challenge. (Dhoni Operates on his Instincts: Ashwin)
Led by Ashish Nehra and Ishwar Pandey, CSK's bowling arsenal has looked well-equipped and delivered whenever required. Even left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who was under the scanner for his poor performance came good in the previous game to pick three Kings XI wickets and break the opposition's back.
KKR, meanwhile, cooled their heels inside the dugout after rain forced abandonment of their clash against table-toppers Rajasthan Royals.
© BCCI
And before the abandoned game, KKR had lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad, a game in which the team's batting frailties were thoroughly exposed by a struggling side fighting to stay afloat.
In fact, all their wins have come against teams which have turned out to be the laggards of this season. If the batting, led by Gautam Gambhir, has been inconsistent, then the bowling attack has been a bit patchy and a cause for concern.
Just when it looked like star off-spinner Sunil Narine had started adjusting to his re-modelled action, the West Indian was called for chucking again by the on-field umpires during the team's away match against SRH on April 22.
Even in the head-to-head count, CSK lead the race in 14 games with 10 wins and 4 losses against the Kolkata-based outfit.