CHENNAI: Nine seasons, seven finals and three titles – CSK can easily be rechristened Consistent Super Kings. The consistency factor stems from the team management’s belief in sticking to the tried-and-tested formula as they made their way back to the tournament after a two-year hiatus. Their first move was to retain the talismanic MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the auctions earlier this year.
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PUNE: Everybody knows how MS Dhoni loves to surprise his opponents with his unconventional decisions. On Sunday, Kings XI Punjab coach Brad Hodge was prepared for one. But not for two.
The Punjab coach said promotion of Harbhajan Singh and then Deepak Chahar in the batting order was something only Dhoni can think of.
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The 18th over, as South Africa chased a revised target at the Wanderers, was eventful. That was when David Miller got two lives. That over by Yuzvendra Chahal became a major talking point of the fourth ODI.
His next, however, saw a breathtaking piece of cricket, effected by MS Dhoni. The leggie once again bowled slow through the air to Miller and the ball sneaked through the gate, as the batsman attempted a heave. Dhoni whipped off the bails in a flash despite being momentarily unsighted by the turn and the batsman’s pivot. Only Miller’s back foot didn’t pop out of the crease and he survived. But a shake of the head suggested disbelief, and also his admiration for the great gloveman.
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Victories over Bangladesh and Pakistan have left MS Dhoni’s Indian cricket team at the top of the Asia Cup points table with four – the hosts have four too, but from three games – and victory over Sri Lanka at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday will put them in pole position to seal a place in the final on March 6.
India’s net run-rate (NRR) of +1.970 is easily the best of the five competing teams, so should they lose to a smarting Sri Lanka, a win over UAE in their last match on Thursday will likely be enough to keep them afloat.
Sri Lanka are coming off a defeat to Bangladesh on Sunday, having beaten UAE in their opening match, and need a win to level on four points. Should they lose, Sri Lanka will remain on two points but from three matches, which would make their final fixture on Friday versus Pakistan as a knock-out one.
India were made to sweat in pursuit of a target of 84 against Pakistan on Saturday, losing three wickets for eight runs to left-arm pace bowler Mohammad Amir, but against a side they know well should not have as much trouble. With Lasith Malinga still a doubtful starter for Sri Lanka, the attack would comprise skipper Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dushmantha Chameera and Rangana Herath, who do not possess the pace and swing that Amir troubled India’s batsmen with.
Shikhar Dhawan sat out the Pakistan match with a niggle, and should slot back in if fit. But there are doubts over Rohit Sharma’s participation after he underwent X-ray scans Sunday on his left toe, after getting hit by an Amir delivery. India used Ajinkya Rahane as Dhawan’s replacement against Pakistan, and they also have Parthiv Patel in the squad to consider.