Preview by Ghcalive Staff
About a month has passed since the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings game at the Wankhede. It’s amazing how favourable the playing field conditions were for CSK, who won handily. The following night, Mitchell Santner and Ravindra Jadeja’s ball spin combination caused damage, sparking Ajinkya Rahane’s comeback. After 48 games in the competition, the two teams are virtually in the same region. Since CSK played a second game, they are awarded an extra point. However, their form has been diverse. While Mumbai Indians are on a high after chasing targets over 200 twice in their last two games, CSK has lost its last three games.
Now, CSK must win without a doubt. The club isn’t in danger, but if they drop their fourth straight game as the race for postseason berths heats up, they could start to worry. The home run for the four-time champions will start with this contest because they will play their next three games at Chepauk.
Despite having a strong record at home, it is difficult for them to win all three. Since they haven’t played here frequently in recent seasons, according to their head coach Stephen Fleming, they are still getting used to the environment. Here, they have already lost twice this year. It’s been harder because the wickets haven’t helped spin as much as they should have.
Two victories over MI by CSK in a single season is uncommon. CSK hasn’t defeated MI at home since returning in 2018. On Saturday, they will surely have the opportunity to break that record, but they would want to have a little home-field advantage to aid them in their efforts.
On the other hand, MI would hope for a batting beauty considering how their hitting order has been playing lately. Suryakumar Yadav is back to his best, Cameron Green and Ishan Kishan are contributing, and Tilak Varma has been outstanding. Tim David is making the last adjustments. Rohit Sharma did spent a lot of time practising before the game, and the five-time champions would like to see their captain break his dry run
When: CSK vs MI, May 6 at 15:30 IST
Where: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
PITCH REPORT
The first innings has averaged 174 runs in the past five Twenty20 matches played at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium. It’s conceivable that pacers and spinners will both win this game. Pacers have taken 54% of the wickets in the last three T20 games played here, while spinners have taken 46%. The batters may receive a lot of pitch help in this game, and the score may rise significantly. The team that wins the coin toss will presumably choose to bowl.
What to anticipate: There’s a chance of a little rain on game day. But it’s expected that the sky will be clear by noon. Concerns about the surface persist since spinners haven’t completely prevailed in Chepauk.
Team Watch
Chennai Super Kings
Mitchell Santner may conceivably start in place of Maheesh Theekshana. The New Zealand all-rounder did provide issues when the teams faced off last month, and Theekshana has been leaking runs this season. Since MS Dhoni seemed to be in terrific form in the practise nets, there have been appeals for him to bat at least before Ravindra Jadeja.
Probable XI: Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, MS Dhoni (C&WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner/Maheesh Theekshana, Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande
Tactics & Matchups: Suryakumar Yadav is in form and has a great record at Chepauk averaging over 40. However, he has struggled against left-arm spin post 2019. As a result, CSK would want to ensure they get Jadeja to bowl to him and probably even Santner if he gets a game. Ajinkya Rahane might not have a great reputation against spin but his strike rate against Piyush Chawla stands at 144.94.
Mumbai Indians
Hrithik Shokeen could be able to reclaim a spot in the starting XI given the quantity of left-handers that CSK has at their disposal.
Probable XI: Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan (WK), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Nehal Wadhera, Hrithik Shokeen, Jofra Archer, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal
Matchups & Tactics: Piyush Chawla has been in great form this season. Despite not having a great record against Rahane, as was already said, the leggie does have a favourable matchup against Dhoni, Jadeja, and Rayudu.
Have you heard?
Despite Ambati Rayudu’s limited playing time this season, he has a very impressive record against MI, averaging over 36 with a strike rate of 133.
Rohit Sharma has a terrible record against Ravindra Jadeja, scoring only 61 runs off of 59 pitches.
Squads:
Chennai Super Kings Squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni(w/c), Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Ambati Rayudu, Mitchell Santner, Subhranshu Senapati, Shaik Rasheed, Akash Singh, Dwaine Pretorius, RS Hangargekar, Sisanda Magala, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Prashant Solanki, Simarjeet Singh, Bhagath Varma, Nishant Sindhu
Mumbai Indians Squad: Rohit Sharma(c), Ishan Kishan(w), Cameron Green, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Nehal Wadhera, Jofra Archer, Piyush Chawla, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Arshad Khan, Suryakumar Yadav, Jason Behrendorff, Sandeep Warrier, Vishnu Vinod, Riley Meredith, Ramandeep Singh, Shams Mulani, Arjun Tendulkar, Hrithik Shokeen, Duan Jansen, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Raghav Goyal
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