Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are all set to lock horns with Delhi Capitals (DC) on March 31 in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam. Rishabh Pant-led DC are aiming for their first win and CSK are unbeaten in the 17th season as they have won two matches against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT).
Ahead of the match, former Australian teammates turned opposing coaches, CSK batting coach Michael Hussey and DC head coach Ricky Ponting have expressed their determination to beat each other’s team. They have also predicted the potential match-winner. Hussey has backed MS Dhoni to seal the match with a stylish finish.
MS Dhoni will hit a six to finish the match: Hussey
"My prediction for the last over of the match is that MS Dhoni will be batting. The crowd will be roaring and MSD will hit a six to finish the match," Hussey said in the video released by IPL's official social media page.
"They're going to be desperate. They're going to be looking to play a great match. We all start on zero and try and put another good performance against Delhi. Yeah, but I think if we can just focus really well on our game and try and execute our skills as best we can, then hopefully it gives us a good chance to get the result we're after," Hussey added.
MS Dhoni stepped down from the CSK captaincy ahead of the IPL 2024. He handed over the baton to Ruturaj Gaikwad. Under Gaikwad’s leadership, CSK have made a solid start as they won two matches so far. However, Dhoni is yet to play his first delivery of the season. Though, he pulled off the brilliant catch in the eight over to brush off Gujarat Titans’ (GT) Vijay Shankar. The catch also hit the headlines.
‘I would like to see Rishabh Pant on strike in the last over’
On the other hand, Ricky Ponting is confident that Skipper Pant will take charge and seal the win for his team. Pant returned to competitive cricket after his life-threatening car accident in December 2022. He has scored 46 runs across two matches against Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS).
"What would I like to see? I would like to see Rishabh Pant on strike in the last over, Delhi with 12 to win and Rishabh hitting a boundary off the last ball to win the game for Delhi. I mean, that'd be the story that a lot of people would like to see. That's the story that the DC fans would like to see. And I'm sure there's the opposite story for the CSK fans," Ponting said.
Watch the video here:
Ponting went on to say that DC would have won the initial two games if they played consistently. Delhi have lost to PBKS and RR.
“We would have won the first two games had we played consistent cricket. The players and the coaching staff are excited for our next game as we want to win it. Nobody wants to lose a game in the tournament. We understand the importance of the match. CSK are a good team, and they are unbeaten. They won the championship last season,” Ponting added.
The master and the apprentice will meet as Pant will go up against Dhoni in today’s clash. Delhi are looking to get some points in their kitty as they play their first home match of the season.
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