Table topper Gujarat Titans will be taking on the mighty Chennai Super Kings this evening in the first qualifier of the league. Both teams are super strong and have excelled in the league with wonderful performances. Although Gujarat has been dominant by defeating Chennai in all 3 matches it has played.
Chennai Super Kings have excelled with a strong base of the batting line up. Dhoni-led Chennai has outperformed many teams in the league due their depth batting line-up. Particularly, the opening pair which has been excelling brilliantly.
Though Gujarat also holds the depth in the batting line up with an advantage of superb bowling as the team consists of the strong bowling line-up with the presence of Magical spinner Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Joshua Little and the likes.
However, the question is whether or not the Gujarat Middle order is capable of countering the death specialists of Chennai. Chennai with the likes of Tushar Deshpande, M Pathirana who have the capability to excel in deaths, can have an advantage over Gujarat Titans.
Chennai death specialists include M Pathirana, who is skilled in Yorkers as well mixed up diverse swing bowling, which he can optimise in the death to restrict Gujarat.
Another bowler Deepak Chahar has established himself as a death specialist who has the ability to bowl slower as well as diverse Yorkers. Chennai can optimise him in the death overs against Gujarat this evening.
As far as the Gujarat’s Middle order is concerned, except Rashid Khan and Ferguson no other batsman has been able to show any impact. Now it will be interesting to see how their Middle order is able to combat the death specialists of Chennai such as M Pathirana.
The middle order consists of Rashid Khan, who has excelled brilliantly with bat and ball, also has hit 10 sixes in a single game. M Pathirana, who has the record of taking 12 wickets in the death overs, can shine in the death overs once again in the qualifier against Gujarat this evening.
