3 player battles to watch out for in CSK vs SRH, Match 46 of IPL 2024 ft. Shivam Dube vs Pat Cummins

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) will lock horns at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, April 28, in match number 46 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season.

The IPL 2024 has been a mixed bag for the defending champions, Chennai. With four wins and as my defeats, they are placed sixth in the points table with a net run rate of 0.415.

CSK will enter the upcoming clash on the back of successive defeats against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). They suffered a six-wicket defeat to LSG in their previous home encounter, failing to defend a 211-run target.

Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad notched up a fine century, remaining unbeaten on 108, while Shivam Dube finished with 66 runs. Their bowling let them down in the game, as Lucknow chased down the target in the last-over thriller, courtesy of Marcus Stoinis' 124*.

Hyderabad, on the other hand, have won five out of their eight outings and occupy the third position in the standings. They lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their last contest, finishing at 171/8 while chasing 207.

Opening batter Abhishek Sharma shone with the bat, scoring 30 off just 13 balls. Shahbaz Ahmed remained unbeaten on 40, though his runs came at a strike rate of 108.11.

This will be the second time that CSK and SRH will face each other this season. Hyderabad clinched a six-wicket victory over Chennai at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, chasing down a 166-run target.

The upcoming clash between the two star-studded teams promises to be an exciting affair, with both sides expected to come out all guns blazing to secure two valuable points. Here, we take a look at three match-ups that could have a significant impact on the result of the CSK vs SRH match.

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Shivam Dube (CSK) vs Pat Cummins (SRH)

Shivam Dube has performed admirably for CSK this year, emerging as Chennai's middle-order lynchpin. The southpaw has amassed 311 runs across eight innings at an average of 51.83 and a strike rate of 169.94.

The swashbuckling batter has three half-centuries to his name in IPL 2024. If set, Dube's batting exploits could take the game away from Hyderabad.

SRH skipper Pat Cummins could back himself to get the better of Dube. The Australian pacer has picked up 10 wickets from eight matches at an economy rate of 8.71.

Dube has scored just six runs off nine balls against Cummins' bowling in the IPL and was out to him when the two sides met earlier this season.

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Deepak Chahar (CSK) vs Travis Head (SRH)

SRH opener Travis Head has been a menace for the opposition this season, consistently taking the bowlers to the cleaners. He has a fantastic strike rate of 212.41 and has amassed 325 runs in seven games.

CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad would want to send Head packing early, and Deepak Chahar, with the new ball, could be his best bet against the left-handed batter.

Chahar has failed to set the stage ablaze this season, bagging just five wickets from six matches at an economy rate of 8.72. The right-arm pacer could trouble Head in his opening spell, especially if there is some swing on offer.

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Matheesha Pathirana (CSK) vs Heinrich Klaasen (SRH)

Hyderabad would once again rely on Heinrich Klaasen for fireworks towards the back end of the innings. The dynamic batter has looked in terrific form, mustering 275 runs from eight games at a strike rate of 199.27.

However, Klaasen will have an imposing challenge this time around, as he will be up against slingy pacer Matheesha Pathirana, who has been impressive at the death overs for Chennai.

Pathirana has taken 11 wickets from just five games at an economy rate of 7.60. The two have squared off just once in the league's history, where the CSK bowler won the battle by dismissing Klaasen.