2013 CLT20 Semi-Final 1: Super Kings look to halt the Royal March

Chennai Super Kings:

Current Form: LWWWL

Possible Playing XI: Mike Hussey, Murali Vijay, Suresh Raina, S Badrinath, MS Dhoni (captain & wk), Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, Albie Morkel, R Ashwin, Mohit Sharma, Jason Holder.

They might have lost their final group game against T&T, but CSK will have a point to prove against Rajasthan Royals in the semifinals. CSK is one of the few teams that are more than capable of breaching the Royal fortress.

They play the same XI throughout the tournament and the team management wouldn’t like to tinker with the combination. As always, the whistle podu men heavily rely on Mike Hussey, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni in the batting department and the bowling responsibilities are given to the safe hands of Dwayne Bravo and R Ashwin.

Their opener Murali Vijay is getting back to the groove and he always loves the big stage. No wonder if Vijay scores big in the semifinals. Jason Holder and Mohit Sharma are doing their respective jobs perfectly.

The form of their premier all rounders Albie Morkel and Ravindra Jadeja should give their skipper MS Dhoni some head ache ahead of the semis. But Dhoni keeps things cool and simple by putting more faith in his warriors. Morkel struggled hard to get bat on ball against T&T and he is failing to pick up wickets and control the run flow time and time again.

On the other hand, million dollar man Jadeja has had a horrible tournament. He has scored just 3 runs with the bat and gifted away runs to opposition that gave him an economy of 12. He might just hold his place in the XI as the Super Kings will hope for the knighted warrior to fire for them in the knockouts.

Come October 4, 2013, CSK will look to conquer the Royal fortress in Jaipur.

The league stage is over and the teams need to start afresh in the knockouts where they will be out of the tournament if they lose a game unlike the IPL.

With their 12 match winning streak on the line, can the Royals outshine their opposition yet again? Or will Dhoni’s men prove their mettle by beating Rajasthan at their own backyard?

So an exciting high voltage clash is on the cards and the fans would hope for the rain gods to stay away.