Chennai Super Kings will aim to carry forward the momentum from their first win of the season when they face Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League on Tuesday. KKR are yet to win a match this season.
CSK registered their first victory after an all-round effort against Delhi Capitals. Sanju Samson scored 115 off 56 balls, his first major contribution for the franchise, while the bowlers also did their job.
A fit-again Dewald Brevis gave CSK the option to adjust their bowling combination, which helped them defend a total of 212 against Delhi Capitals.
Dhoni had light hit in nets ahead of KKR clash
MS Dhoni had a short batting session in the nets ahead of the match against KKR at the MA Chidambaram Stadium but is still unlikely to play in Tuesday’s clash against KKR, according to ESPNcricinfo.
Dhoni has missed all four matches for CSK this season due to a calf strain and is also expected to miss the fifth game. The 44-year-old is still working towards full fitness. On March 28, CSK had said Dhoni would miss the first two weeks of the season and undergo rehab. That period has now ended, but he has not yet shown match fitness.
During practice, Dhoni has only faced throwdowns, mainly from batting coach and former teammate Michael Hussey, and has not batted at full intensity. He has also not done any wicketkeeping drills in training.
Dhoni has not travelled with the team for away matches this season.
Speaking before the earlier game against Punjab Kings, head coach Stephen Fleming said Dhoni continues to play a role within the team.
“It is just a game without him. He is still heavily involved in the side, and his influence remains very strong,” Fleming had said.
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In 278 IPL matches, Dhoni has scored 5,439 runs in 242 innings at an average of 38.30 and a strike rate of 137.45, including 24 fifties and a highest score of 84*. He is the sixth-highest run-scorer in the tournament. Last season, when CSK finished at the bottom, he made 196 runs in 13 innings at an average of 24.50 and a strike rate of over 135, with a highest score of 30.
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