RAYUDU SET TO MISS ONE MORE GAME

After Covid-19, now it’s an injury scare for Chennai Super Kings. M.S. Dhoni’s three-time champions are sweating over the fitness of their key batsman Ambati Rayudu and experienced allrounder Dwayne Bravo.

Rayudu who played a stellar role in CSK’s win over Mumbai Indians in the opener is nursing a hamstring injury and is set to miss Friday’s encounter against Delhi Capitals. Rayudu didn’t play Tuesday’s game against Rajasthan Royals as Chennai hit a bump with a 16-run defeat.

K.S. Viswanathan, CEO of Kings, said Rayudu’s fitness assessed on Thursday.

West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo missed the first two games due to a knee injury, but young Sam Curran proved to be a blessing in dis

Super will be guise for CSK. However, Rayudu’s prolonged absence from the XI could disrupt the team’s balance.

The pull-outs of Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh have already depleted the CSK squad, but the team management hasn’t pressed the panic button yet.

“We are not thinking of ments,” Viswanathan said.

Coach Stephen Fleming said there could be some movement in the batting order, suggesting that in-form Faf du Plessis may open the innings.

“Maybe...keeping in mind that we have had a couple of injuries. We already had to shuffle because of Rayudu injury. It’s still early days and we are trying to find out who can drive this car. We are playing another game in a quick succession. We have to make sure that we don’t panic and we never do,” added the Chennai Super Kings coach Fleming. replace