IPL 2018, SRH vs CSK: Who will win today's match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings

Who will come out on top in a battle between bat and ball? That certainly is the question on everyone's lips ahead of Chennai Super Kings' game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday.

The next question is Shikhar Dhawan's fitness. Will the southpaw be ready to feature in this crucial match or will SRH have to go in without their two first-choice openers against CSK? The question of whether Rashid Khan can bounce back strongly after being hammered by Chris Gayle is a pertinent one as is the one about the pitch and whether it will assist early seam movement considering this is an afternoon game.

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CSK have won three of their four games this season and barring their last game, which was a rout of Rajasthan Royals, they have been close games. They have scored over 200 in two of their four games and almost chased 198 in the only game they lost. So they been sensational with the bat. But can they continue that against the tournament's most formidable bowling line-up?

And who will come out on top in this battle between bat and ball? Here is a look at what might happen as Kane Williamson takes on MS Dhoni.

Date: April 22

Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad

Time: 16:00 IST

If Sunrisers Hyderabad bat first

Predicted score: 160+

The biggest concern for SRH heading into their game against CSK is the fitness of Shikhar Dhawan. The southpaw didn't train on Saturday and is doubtful for the game. If he does miss out, there will be a huge hole in the batting department, that cannot be easily filled.

Although both Kane Williamson and Manish Pandey got fifties in the last game, SRH were in control during the run chase and they will need their top order to step up. Wriddhiman Saha needs to kick on and not just produce quick cameos while the middle-order of Yusuf Pathan, Deepak Hooda and Shakib Al Hasan need to show that they aren't just flowers who bloom once in a blue moon.

If the hosts are to set an above par total after batting first, they will need one of their top three to make a huge contribution and trust the rest of the middle-order to provide useful cameos. Without Dhawan that might be tricky but it can be achieved against a CSK bowling attack that isn't blowing anyone over.

If Chennai Super Kings bat first

Predicted score: 175+

Despite having plenty of injuries to deal with this season, CSK have managed to win three out of their four games. One of the main reasons for that has been their batting and the form of Shane Watson. If they are to come out on top against a formidable SRH bowling line-up at Hyderabad, they will need both to come good again.

It won't be easy, especially as SRH have Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Siddarth Kaul, who can be lethal both at the start and the end of the innings. In the middle, they have to get through Rashid Khan, who, despite being slaughtered by Chris Gayle in the previous game, is still one of the best spinners in the world.

Riding on the high of his first century for CSK, Watson will be keen to keep his good run going but arguably even more important will be Suresh Raina. That southpaw looked in great touch before he was dismissed just short of a fifty in the last game and if he gets going, CSK could be on their way to a big total.

Although Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been known to generate the early swing that troubles batsman, as this is a 4 pm game, that will be negated. So all CSK have to do is to get off to a good start and ensure that their power-packed middle-order fire and a total in excess of 175 isn't out of the question.

Match prediction:

Although Sunrisers Hyderabad have an incredible home record and will have better knowledge of the conditions on offer, the fact that this is a 4 pm game and they might be without their best batsman certainly gives the advantage to CSK. So far this season, although CSK haven't managed to click as a batting group in games, individual performances have got them over the line. Against SRH's formidable bowling line-up that won't be as easy but they still have enough experienced campaigners and better depth to come out on top in this one.