Bangalore have already defeated Chennai once this season, and will aim for a repeat to distance themselves from the mid-table pack

The Preview by Siddarth Ravindran30-Mar-2010Match factsWednesday, March 31
Start time 1600 (1030 GMT)Kevin Pietersen returns to bolster an already formidable Bangalore outfit (file photo)•AFPBig pictureChennai Super Kings have lost four matches in a row, but what would havebeen most disappointing in their most recent defeat – to RajasthanRoyals – will be the manner in which they were outplayed. In each of theirthree previous reverses, Chennai were in with a chance for a good chunk,but they hardly ever looked like controlling the match against Rajasthanafter the opening burst from Michael Lumb and Naman Ojha.The bowling remains a massive source of concern, with playerslike L Balaji and R Ashwin, who impressed early this season, provingexpensive in the past few matches. The batting is less of a worry, butChennai will toy with the idea of sending the big-hitting Albie Morkelslightly higher up the order – many of his chances this season have beenwith the match already gone.Their opponents, Royal Challengers Bangalore, have lesser concerns, after asuperb start to the campaign has lifted them to second spot and a healthynet run-rate. They are coming off a week’s break, during which KevinPietersen and Cameron White have joined the squad. They have alreadydefeated Chennai once this season, and will aim for a repeat to distance themselves from the mid-table pack (four other teams have either thesame points or two less than Bangalore).Form guide (most recent first)Chennai Super Kings LLLLW
Royal Challengers LWWWWTeam talkOnly two bowlers look certain picks for Chennai: Muttiah Muralitharan andleft-arm spinner Shadab Jakati. Seamer Thilan Thushara also had a goodmatch against Rajasthan and could get another game. A slew of injuries hasreduced the options for a team whose policy was to sign on free-strokingallrounders, which means Morkel could be persisted with. MS Dhoni will have ahard time choosing the Indian quick bowler from one of Balaji, JoginderSharma, Manpreet Gony and Sudeep Tyagi.Bangalore have been a settled side, making no changes since the secondgame. The arrival of Pietersen, though, means Eoin Morgan is going to makeway. One argument against that move will be that if Morgan is left out,Bangalore are likely to be a team with 11 right-hand batsmen.Previously.Bangalore 4 Chennai 2The latest encounter between the two teams was last week at the ChinnaswamyStadium, where Chennai’s bowlers did well for most of the inningsuntil Robin Uthappa’s fireworks powered Bangalore to a winning total.In the spotlightKevin Pietersen was Vijay Mallya’s big-ticket signing in 2009 togalvanise Bangalore from a ‘Test’ team into a dynamic Twenty20 outfit.Bangalore were uninspiring under Pietersen in the early part of the IPLlast season, and their transformation into a capable IPL side came onlyafter his departure for England duties. The coming weeks present him achance to show Indian crowds his Twenty20 skills.Dale Steyn v Matthew Hayden: When the two teams met last week,Hayden had the confidence to walk down the track to take on Steyn, who wasregularly crossing the 150kmh mark. Wednesday will be another chance towatch the imposing batsman take on the top-class fast bowlerPrime numbersMatthew Hayden is only 24 runs short of becoming the third batsman(after Adam Gilchrist and Suresh Raina) to make 1000 runs in the IPL Anil Kumble’s winning percentage of 68.75 as captain is the highestamong all players who have led in at least 10 matchesThe chatter”True, the momentum has had a negative impact on us, but Twenty20 is very fickle. The momentum can quickly change. It all boils down to individual players challenging themselves to lift their game.”
Matthew Hayden”As a captain, it is a tough job for me with KP (Pietersen) and White having joined us. We need to take a different approach from here on and also have to decide how to fit in these two players.”
Anil Kumble