IPL 2025: Dhoni's CSK Bowl First Against SRH

Chennai, April 25 (NationPress) Sunrisers Hyderabad have chosen to bowl first against Chennai Super Kings in the 43rd match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium this Friday. With both teams languishing at the bottom of the points table, each earning just four points from eight matches, this encounter is vital for their playoff aspirations.

The Chennai Super Kings, traditionally strong at home, have struggled to adapt to the conditions at Chepauk this season. Despite their wealth of experience and a solid core, CSK has had difficulty interpreting the pitch conditions, resulting in unforeseen losses.

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, playing his milestone 400th T20 match, expressed his desire to bowl first and discussed the two player swaps that brought Dewald Brevis and Deepak Hooda into the lineup, replacing Rachin Ravindra and Vijay Shankar.

“Dew was a significant factor in our decision to bowl first. When a team isn’t performing well, the pressure naturally shifts to the other players. We aim to correct our process and focus on improving in the upcoming matches,” he commented.

“We’re taking it one game at a time, evaluating some combinations, and trusting our skills to execute our plans. We remain uncertain about the wicket's behavior. The grounds staff is doing their utmost,” he added.

On the flip side, Sunrisers Hyderabad have endured a similarly dismal season, grappling with early batting failures, particularly during the powerplay, and struggling to establish significant partnerships.

Their aggressive approach in the initial overs has frequently backfired, putting them in precarious positions. “Facing Chennai is always a major challenge, especially after a couple of losses. However, it’s a fresh venue, and the boys are ready for the challenge. If the pitch is favorable, I trust them to score big; otherwise, I still believe in their capabilities. The pitch appears somewhat dry,” remarked skipper Pat Cummins at the toss.

Both teams find themselves in a situation where winning all remaining matches is essential to maintain their playoff hopes. The contest between CSK and SRH promises to be an exciting battle as both teams strive to keep their IPL 2025 dreams alive.

Playing XIs:

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Aniket Verma, Kamindu Mendis, Pat Cummins(c), Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, Mohammed Shami

Impact Subs: Travis Head, Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby, Rahul Chahar, Wiaan Mulder

Chennai Super Kings: Shaik Rasheed, Ayush Mhatre, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni(w/c), Deepak Hooda, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana

Impact Subs: Anshul Kamboj, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Jamie Overton