Chennai Super Kings v Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL Tips: CSK win to keep them alive

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Monday 18 May,15:00
TV: Sky Sports

Chennai Super Kings v Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL team news

Chennai Super Kings are still in the hunt for the play-offs but they are going to need to win their last two and rely on results elsewhere. They have a stiff run-in, though, with this match followed by their final game against Gujarat Titans.

They could be left ruing a surprise seven-wicket hammering to bottom side Lucknow Super Giants. A total of 187 was not enough despite a breakthrough knock from Kartik Sharma.

Jamie Overton was dropped for Aussie pacer Spencer Johnson. Or maybe it was Akeal Hosein as they used only three overseas.

Possible XI: Samson, Gaikwad, Urvil, Kartik, Brevis, Dube (sub Gurjapneet), Veer, Kamboj, Noor, Johnson, Choudhary

Sunrisers Hyderabad also come into this game off the back of a defeat. It was a chastening one, too. Rolled for 86 against Gujarat, they could be forgiven for worrying that they're not quite at the same level as the top two in the league.

Putting the Sunrisers top-order under pressure is key. After Heinrich Klaasen at No 5 there is very little to worry about. Indeed, Pat Cummins top scored at whopping numbers with just 19 against Titans.

Possible XI: Abhishek, Head (sub Hussain), Ishan, Smaran, Klaasen, Reddy, Arora, Cummins, Shivang, Hinge, Malinga

Chennai Super Kings v Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL pitch report

The Chepauk surface produced another big score last time out with Lucknow posting 208 (the sides met back-to-back). It came just as there were signs that the wicket had reverted to type with scores of 158 and 159. Historically, this has been a slow wicket which has got trickier as more and more matches have been played.

If the home side can get their way, they should be smart enough to return Akeal to the side and pair him with Noor Ahmad on a turner. Sunrisers love pace on the ball so their hitters can swing through the line with abandon. A track which stops or rewards pace off is much harder for them.

The bet, then, could be trusting Chennai deploy their brains and go under Sunrisers' total match runs at 191/5 available at 5/61.84 with Sportsbook.

Chennai Super Kings v Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL match prediction

Chennai are 6/52.20 outsider with Sportsbook and the same (at 2.166/5) on the Exchange. We don't have much faith that Sunrisers are a side to be trusted at odds-on, particularly with the pitch characteristics likely to go against them.

The hosts are extremely tough to beat on their own patch. Not only that but there is evidence that they can stifle the SRH batting. Punjab's horror collapse has rather changed the focus of what one-dimensional means in this tournament but it wasn't so long ago that Sunrisers were accused of the same.

Sunrisers can hit. We know that and have always known that. But can they do the hard yars with the bat and the ball when the wicket is less conducive. Do they have the brains are or they all brawn?

Chennai have the better bowling economy of the teams by 0.73 of a run which is pretty chunky. We always love a good bowling team over a batting one, particularly when the odds are in our favour.

Chennai Super Kings v Sunrisers Hyderabad player bets

Ruturaj Gaikwad has had a disappointing season by his high standards but he is in the win zone for top Chennai bat. Sportsbook offer 11/43.75. We also make a note of Shivam Dube, who had a good hit against Lucknow last time. He is a spin hitter and on spin-heavy surfaces he could come into play. Dube is also overdue a win and it would be a surprise if he drew a blank for the whole campaign. Sportsbook offer 9/110.00

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