Chennai Super Kings are the number 1 side on the points table and when they take on Kings XI Punjab, they will also be favourites to consolidate this position. However, there remains a glaring hole, which not only KXIP, but also the other teams would want to take advantage of in the upcoming games.
For the defending champions, the form and pace of their openers in the powerplay overs remains a big concern, and it needs to be sorted out before the playoffs. The form of MS Dhoni lower down the order has plastered the cracks, but the fact remains that the top order has to do better.
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The openers have struggled to score runs this season - they have managed to score the least runs in the powerplay overs when compared to the other teams. Also, their run rate in the first six overs has been poor.
Not only this, CSK also has the worst run rate in the middle overs (7-15) which has time and again pushed them to a corner only for MS Dhoni to walk out and rescue them from precarious positions.
While Jadhav has struggled with runs and Jadeja has done his bit with bat and ball, it’s the fitness of Dhoni that has CSK worried. Every time the skipper hasn’t played, CSK have looked in disarray. The team lost against SRH when Dhoni missed the game because of back spasm, and then again against MI when Dhoni missed the game due to fever.
{{/usCountry}}While Jadhav has struggled with runs and Jadeja has done his bit with bat and ball, it’s the fitness of Dhoni that has CSK worried. Every time the skipper hasn’t played, CSK have looked in disarray. The team lost against SRH when Dhoni missed the game because of back spasm, and then again against MI when Dhoni missed the game due to fever.
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