Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Live IPL Match 2019

Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

Venue : Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI): David Warner, Jonny Bairstow(w), Kane Williamson(c), Vijay Shankar, Yusuf Pathan, Deepak Hooda, Rashid Khan, Shahbaz Nadeem, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, K Khaleel Ahmed

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina(c), Sam Billings(w), Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Karn Sharma, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Imran Tahir

Suresh Raina:: We are going to bat first. I think batting first is a good option on this wicket. I think we need to be good in the powerplay. It's all about executing our plans. Dhoni wanted to take some rest, he'll be back in the next game. Karn Sharma comes in the side in place of Santner and as Dhoni is not playing, Sam Billings comes in for him.

Kane Williamson: Good decision Suresh. We were going to bat first as well. It's imporant to bowl first up and do the job. The top two have been outstanding. It's a tough format, but the guys need to go out with freedom and express themselves. The guys are looking forward to tonight's game. Ricky Bhui and Abhishek Sharkma are out, Pathan and Nadeem are in. So that we get the right balance.

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This is not a familiar territory for Sunrisers Hyderabad. For a side that's been consistent over the last three years, they find themselves in a tricky situation at the halfway mark, losing four games already. With three of those losses coming on the trot, the last team they would want to face is Chennai Super Kings. It's a side that's been on a four-game winning streak. It's a side that has lost just once in the tournament so far and more importantly, it's a side that has defeated Sunrisers four times last season, including in the final. Form guide and history are clearly against the home side but a win in such a scenario can do wonders and put their campaign back on track.

They had dropped senior players Manish Pandey and Yusuf Pathan in the previous game against Delhi Capitals but the move did backfire with the replacements failing to cope with the pressure. One of them, if not both, might come back into the side for this crucial game. On the bowling front, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was back amongst the wickets but teams continue to play out Rashid Khan in order to take their chances against the other bowlers. There is certainly a case for a tactical change to try and use Rashid either in the powerplay or at the death when the batsmen are looking for boundaries.

For the Super Kings, it's all about continuing their winning run. Two more wins will confirm their spot in the playoffs once again and three might seal a top two finish that will give them a cushion. While they will be pleased to see Suresh Raina getting back to form, the focus will be on Ambati Rayudu, who is not only out of touch this season, but also agonisingly missed out on a spot in the 15-man World Cup squad. He can certainly take inspiration from last season's encounter at this venue where he bailed his side out of trouble with a masterful 79 off just 37 deliveries before bringing up his first IPL hundred in the return clash.