CSK feeling the heat

Mumbai: As usual there has been plenty of pomp and splendour in the DLF-IPL III and there has been accompanying nervousness too, among a few fancied teams.

Except for Royal Challengers Bangalore and to an extent, Mumbai Indians and Deccan Chargers, the rest of the teams in the eight-team competition have been quite ordinary so far.

Chennai Super Kings, the 2008 finalist, ought to be feeling the heat before its sixth match against Mumbai Indians at the Brabourne Stadium on Thursday.

Though Matthew Hayden has supplied the runs and figures fourth in the Orange Cap standings, the Chennai-based side has been hit by the injury to skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the absence of Michael Hussey in the middle order to take control and dominate the proceedings.

Exacting format

Not that the ups and downs are totally unanticipated in an exacting home-and-away format involving 14 league matches on the way to determining the semifinalists.

Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Daredevils are in a similar plight with three losses, but the Suresh Raina-led Super Kings allowed its nerves to crack at a crucial phase of the game against Kings XI at home and against RCB in Bangalore on Tuesday.

It's not a good position (after three defeats in five matches) to be in, having played a third of the league matches; the only comforting fact though for the Super Kings is that it is placed fourth in the points table, a position that's unlikely to change irrespective of whoever wins in Mohali in the clash between Kings XI and Rajasthan Royals.

The Super Kings will have to cut loose with the bat, be smart with the ball and precise on the field and make a collective effort in order to put it across Mumbai Indians which made up for the loss against Anil Kumble's team with a clear-cut win against the Knight Riders.