1. Overview
After 52 Days of entertaining the league stage, it's now time for the playoffs which kicks off with Qualifier 1. With not a single dead rubber, this season is already the most competitive season of all time. Have a look at the Points Table at the end of the league stage.
Credits: Iplt20.com
Just like the League Stage, the first qualifier is going to be a great contest. While Chennai Super Kings have 4 IPL Trophies to their name, Gujarat Titans are the defending champions. This might not be end of road for any side as they will be another chance even if they lose, both would be eager to qualify for the final in the very first attempt.
2. Team Previews
Head-to-Head Record: 3 Matches, GT: 3 Wins, and CSK: 0 Wins
Chennai Super Kings: After having a forgettable season last year, CSK has bounced back in style to not just make it to the Playoffs, but finish in the Top 2. This is not the first time they are doing this. They have shown similar comeback in the year 2021 when they finished 2nd on the Points table (and later went on to win the trophy) after finishing 2nd last in 2020.
The Absence of Mukesh Choudhary, their joint-highest wicket-taker last season or Kyle Jamieson hasn’t affected their performance nor did the absence of Ben Stokes, who is their most expensive player as they shelled out Rs 16.25 crs to purchase him, in the first half. In fact, they haven’t played him despite of him being confirmed fully fit, such is their strength.
They might not have beaten Gujarat Titans in all 3 matches they have played, but they have the home advantage this time which they never had before as they faced GT at Pune, Mumbai and Ahmedabad respectively. They have all the chances to make it to their 10th Final Appearance.
Gujarat Titans: Topping the table second time in row, Gujarat Titans have been at the top since they came into existence. Whether Defending or chasing they have always remained ahead of their opponents. They have won 10 matches and made sure they take the match till the last over whenever they lost, barring their encounter against the Mumbai Indians.
One of the main reasons for the success in the successive years is the contribution from everybody in different matches thereby sharing the responsibility and avoiding over-dependence on a few players. The Top 2 Wicket Takers – Mohammed Shami and Rashid Khan, both with 24 wickets, belongs to their team while their top scorer Shubman Gill is in red-hot form with back-to-back centuries and might end up winning the orange cap as well.
But they will be facing a huge challenge as they have haven’t played in Chennai before and its spin friendly surface might create problems for their batsmen. Though, records are in their favor as they have neither lost a match against CSK nor have, they lost any match in the playoffs, in the 2 seasons they have played so far.
3. Probable Teams
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (C) (WK), Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana. (Impact Player - Matheesha Pathirana)
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya (C), David Miller, Dasun Shanaka, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Mohammed Shami. (Impact Player - Yash Dayal)
4. Interesting Facts
Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings Played the first match of the League Stage and now will be playing the first match of the Playoffs too.
Mohammed Shami and Rashid Khan are both joint-highest takers of this season so far with 24 wickets each.
Shubman Gill (680) is just 50 Runs behind the current orange cap holder Faf Du Plessis (730). With at least 2 matches more, he has all the chances to grab the orange cap.
Shubman Gill (3459) needs 41 runs to complete 4000 T20 Runs
Ajinkya Rahane (5922) needs 78 Runs to complete 6000 T20 Runs
Ravindra Jadeja (149) needs just 1 more wicket to complete 150 IPL Wickets
Deepak Chahar (147) needs 3 wickets to complete 150 T20 Wickets
Hardik Pandya (148) needs 2 wickets to complete 150 T20 Wickets
Mohammed Shami (44) needs 6 while Rashid Khan (43) needs 7 wickets, to complete 50 Wickets for Gujarat Titans
Shivam Dube (49) will be playing his 50th IPL Match
Vijay Shankar, who played his 100th T20 Innings last match, achieved twin milestone of 1000 IPL Runs and 2000 T20 Runs, during his 53 against RCB.
5. Weather and Pitch Report
The average temperature in Chennai will be around 32 with no chances of rain. The Wicket at Chepauk supports Spinners where scoring runs have been challenging but we can expect a balanced pitch for this match with an average score of 160-170. Toss winning side should opt to chase.
6. Match Details
Time: 7:30 PM
Date: 23rd May 2023
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai
7. Dream XI
