Holders Chennai Super Kings welcome the Lucknow Super Giants to the intimidating Den in Chennai on April 23 in their next assignment with the 2024 season of the money-spinning Indian Premier League in full cry.
At the end of seven games each, CSK and LSG stand fourth and fifth in the table having amassed 8 points through their four wins each in the ongoing campaign. The visitors would have their tails up after the win they managed to register on Tuesday’s host in their backyard in UP in the previous outing, but the defending champions have fortified their home ground with three wins in as many games.
Having had a first-hand experience of how the side from Lucknow like to operate, CSK batting coach Mike Hussey opined that it was somewhat helpful to be able to pick up on the patterns of the opposition.
“We have had a good close look at them in their home conditions,” the Australian said.
“They have a very good team, but it helps us now that we know what they are going to do,” he added.
“I guess we don’t exactly know what they are going to do but I guess we know their style of play, we know when their players are going to come out to bowl and when they are going to come out to bat, so I guess that makes it a little bit easier when you have played them so close,” the Chennai side’s batting coach said.
However, Hussey was cautious enough to acknowledge the cognisance with which the visitors will come into the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
“But the same goes for them,” he threw caution.
“They see us at home straight after their victory over us in the last game, so they will come in with confidence,” he elaborated.
A good start, with the willow or the leather depending on the outcome of the toss, will go a long way in determining the victor of the charged contest in Tamil Nadu.
“We need to start well. Get a couple of early wickets if we’re bowling first and get off to a good start if we bat first and then go from there,” Hussey explained.
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CSK are slated to play three games at the hallowed Chepauk Satdium on the bounce going ahead in the season against LSG, SRH and PBKS. But Hussey opined that it was empirical to focus on the upcoming assignment.
“Of course, it is going to be really important. The closer you get to the back end of the tournament, the win becomes really important,” the 48-year-old said.
CSK got off to a bright start to the event with two wins in their opening games but slumped to a couple of losses on the road before returning to winning way against KKR at home. The holders got their first away win of the season against MI at the Wankhede but were handed a defeat in UP by the KL Rahul-led Lucknow side ahead of the return fixture.
“I mean, wins are important at any time of the tournament. We got off to a pretty good start and we have a very good record at home If we can play well in the next three games it gives us a really good chance,” the former CSK opener added.
Hussey shed light on the necessity to keep their eyes firmly set on the upcoming fixture and explained it was rather dangerous to think the wins are going to come on their own.
“However, it is also dangerous for us to think it is just going to happen, and it is dangerous for us to think too far ahead as well,” the classy southpaw iterated.
“All our attention needs to be on the game tomorrow against LSG. That’s all we can focus on at the moment,” Hussey revealed.
“If you start thinking, ‘Yeah, we are going to win the next three matches’, you are thinking about what is not important,” the Aussie asserted.
“What is important now is to prepare really well for the game against LSG, try and win this match and then we can head on to the next one,” he signed off.
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