<p class="title">Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's vintage form has added to their strength and table-toppers Chennai Super Kings would look to continue their winning momentum when they take on Kolkata Knight Riders in an IPL match, here on Thursday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dhoni has turned back the clock with his last three innings, two of them half-centuries, adding to the fine run of imposing all-rounder Shane Watson.</p>.<p class="bodytext">CSK are currently leading the eight-team table with 12 points from six wins out of eight games.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Both the teams are here on the back of two morale-boosting wins. While KKR successfully chased 176 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bengaluru, CSK reigned supreme against Delhi Daredevils at their adopted home in Pune.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Half-centuries from Watson and Dhoni blasted CSK to its third 200-plus score and then young fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi and KM Asif choked Delhi's chase to hand CSK its sixth win of the season.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dhoni himself has been a major factor in CSK's success with his batting and the ever-inspiring captaincy. His decision to make four changes against Delhi showed the team's depth and his faith in the bench-strength.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ngidi looked reliable both in powerplay and at the death as the South African led the pace department in the absence of an injured Deepak Chahar.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Asif also impressed with his raw pace and quick arm action and took two wickets on debut, though the young Kerala pacer leaked 43 runs in three overs.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In batting, Watson, who struggled for Royal Challengers Bangalore last season, has been a revelation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Backed by Dhoni, the veteran Australian all-rounder slammed this season's highest score -- 106 -- his fourth T20 hundred.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ambati Rayudu too has gone about his tasks quietly, be it as an opener or in the middle-order to lead the batting chart with 370 runs.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Then there is Dhoni who is currently averaging 71.50 with three half-centuries.</p>.<p class="bodytext">With a handsome 12-7 win-loss record, the Dhoni-led side will start favourites to win.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In the mid-table with six matches to go, KKR cannot afford to lose at Eden Gardens, where they play three more, in their bid to secure a playoff berth under Dinesh Karthik.</p>.<p class="bodytext">KKR's campaign, so far, has been hugely dependent on the overseas trio of Chris Lynn, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Lynn was the architect of KKR's six-wicket win in Bangalore with a restrained knock of 62 not out from 52 balls after he got a reprieve on seven.</p>.<p class="bodytext">KKR would hope for a strong batting show, especially from Robin Uthappa who is in the middle of a lean patch and is yet to score a half-century.</p>.<p class="bodytext">KKR also seemed to have under-utilised youngster Shubman Gill by sending him lower down the order.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Batting at no. 7, the Under-19 World Cup star has scores of 3, 6, 14 not out, 37, 5 not out in what seems to be sheer waste of talent. Having failed to defend a steep 203 in the first leg, KKR bowlers will look for a better show this time.</p>
<p class="title">Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's vintage form has added to their strength and table-toppers Chennai Super Kings would look to continue their winning momentum when they take on Kolkata Knight Riders in an IPL match, here on Thursday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dhoni has turned back the clock with his last three innings, two of them half-centuries, adding to the fine run of imposing all-rounder Shane Watson.</p>.<p class="bodytext">CSK are currently leading the eight-team table with 12 points from six wins out of eight games.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Both the teams are here on the back of two morale-boosting wins. While KKR successfully chased 176 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bengaluru, CSK reigned supreme against Delhi Daredevils at their adopted home in Pune.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Half-centuries from Watson and Dhoni blasted CSK to its third 200-plus score and then young fast bowlers Lungi Ngidi and KM Asif choked Delhi's chase to hand CSK its sixth win of the season.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dhoni himself has been a major factor in CSK's success with his batting and the ever-inspiring captaincy. His decision to make four changes against Delhi showed the team's depth and his faith in the bench-strength.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ngidi looked reliable both in powerplay and at the death as the South African led the pace department in the absence of an injured Deepak Chahar.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Asif also impressed with his raw pace and quick arm action and took two wickets on debut, though the young Kerala pacer leaked 43 runs in three overs.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In batting, Watson, who struggled for Royal Challengers Bangalore last season, has been a revelation.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Backed by Dhoni, the veteran Australian all-rounder slammed this season's highest score -- 106 -- his fourth T20 hundred.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ambati Rayudu too has gone about his tasks quietly, be it as an opener or in the middle-order to lead the batting chart with 370 runs.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Then there is Dhoni who is currently averaging 71.50 with three half-centuries.</p>.<p class="bodytext">With a handsome 12-7 win-loss record, the Dhoni-led side will start favourites to win.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In the mid-table with six matches to go, KKR cannot afford to lose at Eden Gardens, where they play three more, in their bid to secure a playoff berth under Dinesh Karthik.</p>.<p class="bodytext">KKR's campaign, so far, has been hugely dependent on the overseas trio of Chris Lynn, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Lynn was the architect of KKR's six-wicket win in Bangalore with a restrained knock of 62 not out from 52 balls after he got a reprieve on seven.</p>.<p class="bodytext">KKR would hope for a strong batting show, especially from Robin Uthappa who is in the middle of a lean patch and is yet to score a half-century.</p>.<p class="bodytext">KKR also seemed to have under-utilised youngster Shubman Gill by sending him lower down the order.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Batting at no. 7, the Under-19 World Cup star has scores of 3, 6, 14 not out, 37, 5 not out in what seems to be sheer waste of talent. Having failed to defend a steep 203 in the first leg, KKR bowlers will look for a better show this time.</p>