AB de Villiers declared fit for vital CSK clash

Over 9: 61/3, 4 runs from the over as Ravindra Jadeja returns to the attack. The KKR spinners bowled superbly to keep the MS Dhoni-led team to 177/5. He applied himself superbly and put the bad balls away but got no support from the other end and hence, ended on the losing side.

Following a rampaging start this season, winning five of the first six games, Chennai’s momentum have been shattered a bit following two defeats in their last three games, which allowed Sunrisers Hyderabad to leapfrog them into the top position.

Patel also chipped a straightforward catch to Jadeja in the 13th over as Bangalore struggled to put on partnerships against some tidy Chennai bowling.

WICKET! RCB in tatters!

CSK struck another big blow in the very next over when the risky AB De Villiers was stumped off Harbhajan Singh’s bowling.

For the star-studded RCB, the clash is a must-win encounter if they have to stay alive in the tournament and qualify for the play-offs. Mind you though, it was not an easy stumping.

WICKET! The big fish! . Both Jaddu and Bhajju Pa did very well, they kept us in the game after the start was provided by the fast bowlers.

The caption of the picture reads, “No celebrations from Jadeja here as he gets the crucial wicket of the #RCB Skipper”. It’s probably the best I’ve seen him play for quite a few years.

Opting to bowl first at Eden Gardens, KKR restricted Super Kings to 177 for five off their 20 overs, with Narine picking up two for 20 from his four brilliant overs of off-spin.

Both teams have made three changes. Instead, the diminutive keeper’s mistakes proved costly with Chennai going on to win the Southern derby by 6 wickets. “A superb overall performance!Great win!” One match ended in a no-result. AB de Villiers comes to the crease. In the earlier meeting this season, AB de Villiers smashed 68 off 30 balls that saw Bangalore post a commanding 205 for 8 only to have MS Dhoni eclipse him at the Chinnaswamy.

Al in all, this South Indian derby will be a cracker of a contest to watch out for in the first of the two games on Saturday.

AB de Villiers is in for de Kock, Parthiv is in for Vohra and M Ashwin comes in for Washington Sundar.

Heaping praise on skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting coach Mike Hussey has termed the former India Test wicket-keeper as the man having the fastest draw of as far as stumping off spinners is concerned.