IPL 2018 Preview: Wounded Chennai Super Kings face rejuvenated Delhi Daredevils test

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  • Daredevils take on RCB in a crunch clash. Image - DD/Twitter.

    It will be a clash of extremes as IPL leaders Chennai Super Kings take on Delhi Daredevils at the Dahunje stadium in Pune on Monday.

    MS Dhoni’s Super Kings have started this season in blistering fashion but come into the game on the back of an eight-wicket defeat to the Mumbai Indians on Sunday.

    On the other hand, a change of captaincy has worked wonders for bottom-of-the-table Daredevils with Shreyas Iyer beginning his tenure with a comprehensive win against Kolkata Knight Riders.

    TALKING POINTS

    REJUVENATED DAREDEVILS SEEK DRAMATIC TURNAROUND

    It was all gloom for the Delhi franchise as they started their campaign with five defeats in their first six games. Things hit rock bottom when Gautam Gambhir announced his decision to step down as captain following the team’s poor showing. In appointing 23-year-old Iyer as the new skipper, the franchise took a brave call.

    After one match, it seems like the decision has been vindicated with Iyer smashing an unbeaten 93 to lead his side to victory over the Knight Riders. That win could just be the spark the Daredevils so desperately needed and with seven games still to play, Iyer’s men could yet make a statement as they seek to turn around their fortunes.

    PLAYERS IN FOCUS

    Colin Munro came into the tournament with a big reputation and some serious form but the Blackcaps opener was dismal in his first two outings. He finally found his touch in the win over Kolkata with an entertaining knock of 33. That small cameo could kickstart Munro’s IPL career and if he gets going, the Daredevils can turn it up against any opposition.

    On the other hand, the Super Kings will have to make do without the services of pacer Deepak Chahar for two weeks due to a hamstring injury. The Rajasthan-born pacer has been brilliant with the new ball for Dhoni’s men and it will be interesting to see who replaces Chahar in the line-up on Monday.

    Dhoni could opt to go with a spinner in Karn Sharma in Chahar’s stead or he could turn to the uncapped Monu Kumar and KM Asif. There is also the possibility of Mark Wood or David Willey being brought into the line-up to bolster the pace attack and that could mean Imran Tahir missing out on Sunday.

    LIKELY LINE-UPS

    Chennai Super Kings: Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (c, wk), Dwayne Bravo, Sam Billings, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Karn Sharma, Shardul Thakur, David Willey.

    Delhi Daredevils: Prithvi Shaw, Colin Munro, Shreyas Iyer (c), Rishab Pant, Glenn Maxwell, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Liam Plunkett, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan, Trent Boult.

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