Hyderabad eye turnaround, opt to field first against Chennai at Chepauk

Asked to bat first, Chennai Super Kings will look to engineer a crucial turnaround at home when they host an equally embattled Sunrisers Hyderabad in a must-win clash in the IPL 2025 on Friday.

With both teams languishing near the bottom of the table, having collected just four points from eight matches, the contest has effectively turned into a battle for survival. A defeat for either side would all but end their already faint hopes of playoff qualification.

CSK, the five-time champions renowned for making Chepauk a fortress, find themselves in unfamiliar territory this season. Their famed ability to read home conditions has deserted them, with the pitches not playing to their traditional strengths.

While they began their campaign at home with a resounding victory over Mumbai Indians, a game where spinner Noor Ahmad bamboozled the opposition, the momentum proved short-lived. Since then, they have suffered three consecutive defeats at Chepauk, including a crushing loss to Kolkata Knight Riders where they were restricted to their lowest-ever IPL total at home: a dismal 103 for 9.

The inconsistency with the bat has been one of CSK’s major concerns this season. Their inability to string together meaningful partnerships or adapt to the pitch conditions has left the batting unit vulnerable under pressure. With the season now entering a critical phase, the Super Kings will be desperate to find their rhythm at the crease and deliver a performance befitting their legacy.

Sunrisers Hyderabad, on the other hand, have endured a similarly turbulent campaign. After showing early promise, their season quickly unraveled, exposing the flaws in their all-out aggressive approach. Their much-vaunted batting lineup, which relies heavily on power-hitting, has struggled to find consistency. The opening duo of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who were instrumental to SRH’s success last season, have failed to replicate their form, leaving a void at the top that has disrupted the team’s flow.

With both teams now under immense pressure, Friday’s encounter promises high stakes and emotional intensity. CSK will be banking on their home crowd to lift them, while SRH must find a way to recalibrate their high-risk game plan. For whichever side emerges victorious, it will be a glimmer of hope in an otherwise disappointing campaign.