Kolkata Knight Riders test for Super Chennai Super Kings

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Chennai Super Kings’ all-rounder Albie Morkel’s tweet after the defeat against Kings XI Punjab is unprintable but pretty much summed up the mood in the camp.

The South African cricketer was actually on the button. Super Kings need to step it up. They are still comfortably perched on the top branches. But four wins from nine matches does not do enough justice to their enormous potential.

One of the worrying aspects of their campaign is to see them drop points at their own backyard – a fortress which was once impregnable for travellers.

After going down against Mumbai Indians in the opener, Super Kings also failed to pass the Punjab test.

On Monday, they once again line up to host Kolkata Knight Riders who have been in plundering form of late. With three back-to-back wins, Knight Riders hold all the aces.

Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir has been leading from the front. The Indian opener comes into the match after producing a match-winning knock against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Gambhir’s opening partner, Brendon McCullum, can destroy any bowling attack if he gets going. For the visitors, it only gets better with Jacques Kallis walking in at number three.

In the bowling department, Brett Lee spearheads the attack, while unorthodox spinner Sunil Narine continues to mesmerise batsmen with his variety. Kallis, with his more-than-useful medium pace, adds teeth to the attack.

Super Kings, nevertheless, would look to get the recent loss out of their system in a hurry and regroup for the important tie.

With Mike Hussey set to join the team only after the Knight Riders game, Super Kings have another chance to test the mettle of a few promising players on their roster.

Wriddhiman Saha has been clearly struggling and skipper MS Dhoni would do well to give S. Anirudha a deserving break.

The middle-order needs to iron out their flaws quickly. Openers Faf Du Plessis and S. Badrinath have been providing solid starts but it’s high time Suresh Raina capitalised his chances at the top of the order.

The bowling looks settled with Albie Morkel’s return. R. Ashwin and Nuwan Kulasekara have been at their miserly best.

Though Knight Riders’ top-order has been firing, their middle-order looks a bit circumspect. Yusuf Pathan has been a pale shadow of himself with the bat.