It's an elbow fight for the top spot in IPL 7. Chennai Super Kings
(CSK) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) are taking turns to sit on top of the
leaderboard, but there's little to choose between the two teams who are
matching each other blow for blow.
Inching closer to the playoffs, CSK and KXIP have set the standards this season as other teams are trying to play catch-up but falling short on most occasions - barring may be Rajasthan Royals.
Like Chennai, Punjab too have faced defeat just twice in their 10
games so far, but unlike Chennai, to different opponents. Their off days
came against the Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders
.
Sandeep Sharma's 14 wickets, honestly, weren't expected with the likes of Mitchell Johnson in the line-up. But the young lad has held his own, putting even names as big as Chris Gayle to test. Veteran medium pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji has played the supportive role well, taking 11 wickets so far.
But Punjab's nuclear resources lie in their bats held by Glenn Maxwell and David Miller. In 10 innings, the Aussie Maxwell has already crossed 500 runs, 517 to be precise, at a strike rate of over 198. And South African Miller's 321 runs at a strike rate of more than 155 has done the finishing job for Punjab.
And the testimony of that lies in the two matches - against Chennai and Sunrisers Hyderabad - where they chased down a mammoth target of 205 runs.
Chennai, like always, have played like champions despite change of personnel after this year's auction. Dwayne Smith is second on the batting chart with 440 runs, behind Maxwell. Smith's opening partner Brendon McCullum too is among the top five run-getters with 333 runs. The duo have provided breathing space to the middle order led by Suresh Raina and a license to kill for the lower order governed by skipper MS Dhoni.
Mohit Sharma has repaid the faith Dhoni has put in him with a stellar performance both with the new ball as well as in the death overs. The medium pacer has 18 wickets in his bag and Purple Cap on his head, with Ravindra Jadeja (13 wickets) turning up whenever the chips are down, along with R Ashwin (11 wickets).
So there's not much between the two teams to choose in the league stage, but the knockouts may bring the real champions out.
Chennai have been there and done it all, having reached at least the semi-finals in each of the IPL seasons so far. That's where Punjab's mettle may be tested, as they are yet to win the title.
Here's a blow-by-blow account of the two teams so far:
CHENNAI
vs Kings XI Punjab: lost by 6 wickets
vs Delhi Daredevils: won by 93 runs
vs Rajasthan Royals: won by 7 runs
vs Mumbai Indians: won by 7 wickets
vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: won by 5 wickets
vs Kolkata Knight Riders: won by 34 runs
vs Delhi Daredevils: won by 8 wickets
vs Kings XI Punjab: lost by 44 runs
vs Mumbai Indians: won by 4 wickets
vs Rajasthan Royals: won by Rajasthan Royals
PUNJAB
vs Chennai Super Kings: win by 6 wickets
vs Rajasthan Royals: win by 7 wickets
vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: win by 72 runs
vs Kolkata Knight Riders: win by 23 runs
vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: win by 5 wickets
vs Mumbai Indians: lost by 5 wickets
vs Chennai Super Kings: win by 44 runs
vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: win by 32 runs
vs Kolkata Knight Riders: lost by 9 wickets
vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: win by 6 wickets
Inching closer to the playoffs, CSK and KXIP have set the standards this season as other teams are trying to play catch-up but falling short on most occasions - barring may be Rajasthan Royals.
ALSO SEE KXIP's success mantra - Indian coach, simple approach
Chennai's dominance may seem a little stronger considering their two defeats have come against the same team, i.e., Punjab. But KXIP will like to see that stat the other way round - that they are the only team to have beaten the two-time champions so far this season. So that evens out the scales a bit.CSK and KXIP are taking turns to sit on top of the IPL-7 leaderboard, and there's little to choose between the two teams.
.
ALSO SEE CSK rope in David Hussey to replace Bravo
What must gladden Punjab hearts is the fact that as the tournament progressed, they have developed into an all-round outfit - with the bowlers matching the performance of their marauding batsmen.Sandeep Sharma's 14 wickets, honestly, weren't expected with the likes of Mitchell Johnson in the line-up. But the young lad has held his own, putting even names as big as Chris Gayle to test. Veteran medium pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji has played the supportive role well, taking 11 wickets so far.
But Punjab's nuclear resources lie in their bats held by Glenn Maxwell and David Miller. In 10 innings, the Aussie Maxwell has already crossed 500 runs, 517 to be precise, at a strike rate of over 198. And South African Miller's 321 runs at a strike rate of more than 155 has done the finishing job for Punjab.
And the testimony of that lies in the two matches - against Chennai and Sunrisers Hyderabad - where they chased down a mammoth target of 205 runs.
Chennai, like always, have played like champions despite change of personnel after this year's auction. Dwayne Smith is second on the batting chart with 440 runs, behind Maxwell. Smith's opening partner Brendon McCullum too is among the top five run-getters with 333 runs. The duo have provided breathing space to the middle order led by Suresh Raina and a license to kill for the lower order governed by skipper MS Dhoni.
Mohit Sharma has repaid the faith Dhoni has put in him with a stellar performance both with the new ball as well as in the death overs. The medium pacer has 18 wickets in his bag and Purple Cap on his head, with Ravindra Jadeja (13 wickets) turning up whenever the chips are down, along with R Ashwin (11 wickets).
So there's not much between the two teams to choose in the league stage, but the knockouts may bring the real champions out.
Chennai have been there and done it all, having reached at least the semi-finals in each of the IPL seasons so far. That's where Punjab's mettle may be tested, as they are yet to win the title.
Here's a blow-by-blow account of the two teams so far:
CHENNAI
vs Kings XI Punjab: lost by 6 wickets
vs Delhi Daredevils: won by 93 runs
vs Rajasthan Royals: won by 7 runs
vs Mumbai Indians: won by 7 wickets
vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: won by 5 wickets
vs Kolkata Knight Riders: won by 34 runs
vs Delhi Daredevils: won by 8 wickets
vs Kings XI Punjab: lost by 44 runs
vs Mumbai Indians: won by 4 wickets
vs Rajasthan Royals: won by Rajasthan Royals
PUNJAB
vs Chennai Super Kings: win by 6 wickets
vs Rajasthan Royals: win by 7 wickets
vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: win by 72 runs
vs Kolkata Knight Riders: win by 23 runs
vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: win by 5 wickets
vs Mumbai Indians: lost by 5 wickets
vs Chennai Super Kings: win by 44 runs
vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: win by 32 runs
vs Kolkata Knight Riders: lost by 9 wickets
vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: win by 6 wickets
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