Published: Apr 17, 2019, 08:52 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 17, 2019, 08:54 PM (IST)
MS Dhoni did not walk out for the toss for Chennai Super Kings, for only the 4th time in the history of the league, after being rested for Match 33 of IPL 2019 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium on Wednesday.
Dhoni was rested owing to back spasm he suffered in CSK’s previous game against Kolkata Knight Riders.
This will be the first time since 2010 that CSK will be without Dhoni. CSK has played a total of 187 matches in the IPL with Dhoni being part of the XI in 183 matches. Suresh Raina has missed just two games for CSK, playing 185 matches.
In his absence, Raina is leading the team and opted to bat first against SRH after winning the toss. Sam Billings will keep for CSK in Dhoni’s absence while Mitchell Santner has been dropped in favour for Karn Sharma, keeping in mind the 4 foreigner quota.
For SRH, Yusuf Pathan and Shahbaz Nadeem come in.
After CSK’s win over KKR on April 14, MS Dhoni had said his back was a little tight due to a spasm. “Back spasm,” Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony. “It’s a little tight right now but hopefully, it will get better.”
But Raina said, Dhoni is fine. “Dhoni wanted to take some rest, he’ll be back in the next game. Karn Sharma comes in the side in place of Santner and as Dhoni is not playing, Sam Billings comes in for him.”
Teams:
Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI): David Warner, Jonny Bairstow(w), Kane Williamson(c), Vijay Shankar, Yusuf Pathan, Deepak Hooda, Rashid Khan, Shahbaz Nadeem, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, K Khaleel Ahmed
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina(c), Sam Billings(w), Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Karn Sharma, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Imran Tahir
