Cheetahs eye third straight win

Sandip G
CHENNAI: When much is made about the perceived advantages of playing at home, Chennai Cheetahs is a case in exception, for all four of their wins have been on the road, whereas they have squeezed in only a point at their home, Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium. But this is an anomaly they would seek to expunge when they meet Bhopal Badshahs on Tuesday.

After a bizarre string of matches that included home defeats to Mumbai Marines and Karnataka Lions and an away loss to the Badshahs, Cheetahs have resurrected their semifinal prospects with full points over Karnataka Lions and Pune Strykers. Importantly, both were acquired with comprehensive margins (4-1 and 3-1 respectively).

Noticeably, and surprisingly, only two of those seven goals owed to Imran Warsi, on whom the Cheetahs had over-depended in the initial phase so much so that their fortunes were directly proportional to his. The Pakistani is still their top-scorer (14 goals) by leagues but in the last couple of outings, Adam Sinclair has demonstrated his redoubtable worth with strikes in both matches, taking his tally to five. Rookie forward S Sivamani, too, has made positive vibes.

Their main man, however, has been Vikram Pillay, who some reckon was injudiciously ejected from the national side, and whose performance in the league has been consistently stimulating.

Strangling him would be the key for Badshahs, who had drubbed Cheetahs 3-1 in Bhopal.

But since that gloriously-lit night at a packed Aisgbagh Stadium, wherein they conjured a remarkable performance, their quality has regressed ever so slightly.

Though they are still on par with the Cheetahs, pointwise, and in merry contention for the final four, they ought to recover from the twin jolts by Sher-e-Punjab and Delhi Wizards. Another away loss would immensely impede their course.

Theirs is a side bereft of over-the-hill marquee names, but for Pakistani centre half Waseem Ahmad, and instead has a pack of national hasbeens such as Sameer Dad, Girish Pimpale, Lalitkumar Upadhyay and AB Cheeyana.

All the aforementioned names were in the reckoning for most part of Jose Brasa’s reign but weren’t afforded with a decent run. However, they have been the spine of Badshahs’ emergence.

Their speed put Cheetahs’ defence under substantial pressure in their first matchup, and though the backline exhibited solidity against the Strykers and Lions, Badshahs would be a far more menacing proportion. Moreover, Badshahs have a few men amidst them with first-hand knowledge of the conditions — coach Vasudevan Baskaran, his son Karan Laxman, their top-scorer with five goals, and IOB-man N Senthil Kumar.