This Sunday night, prepare for the epic revival of the storied rivalry between the five-time champions, Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings. It's the clash cricket enthusiasts have been eagerly anticipating all season long.
Probable XI:
Mumbai Indians: Ishan Kishan (WK), Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (C), Tim David, Romario Shepard, Mohammad Nabi, Gerald Coetzee, Shreyas Gopal, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Madhwal.
Impact Players: Suryakumar Yadav, Nehal Wadhera.
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Rachin Ravindra, Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Sameer Rizvi, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Mustafizur Rahman, Tushar Deshpande.
Impact Players: Shivam Dube, Mukesh Chaudhary.
After enduring three consecutive defeats, Mumbai has rediscovered their winning formula, clinching victories in their last two matches. Now, they face off against their long standing rivals, CSK, in their upcoming game. Their recent victory over Delhi, with Romario flexing his muscles and Surya displaying video game-like prowess against RCB, has catapulted them to 4 points on the table. Their resurgence poses a serious threat to other teams. The openers have been outstanding, capitalizing on the powerplay with finesse. Surya, after a rare duck against DC, unleashed an onslaught on RCB bowlers that resembled a virtual gaming experience. However, it was Jasprit Bumrah who delivered the most pivotal performance of the night, claiming purple cap and securing Mumbai Indians' second consecutive home victory. Faf Du Plessis acknowledged Bumrah's impact, labeling him as the game-changer in the post-match presentation. With the likes of Rohit, Ishan, Hardik, Surya, and Bumrah firing on all cylinders, Mumbai Indians have announced their resurgence in grand fashion. Needless to say that teams will now face them with a sense of trepidation.
Mumbai's primary concern however lies in the lack of consistent performances from their bowling unit beyond the exceptional displays by Bumrah. While Akash Madhwal showed promise against DC, he struggled against RCB, conceding a lot of runs. The team has conceded 200 runs twice and came close to doing so against RCB. Mumbai cannot solely depend on one bowler. Although Shreyas Gopal displayed competence, the entire bowling unit must step up, operating under the guidance and experience of Bumrah.
Chennai Super Kings, under the stewardship of new captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, have enjoyed a respectable campaign thus far. With three victories in their last five outings, they enter this match buoyed by a convincing win over KKR. The venue being Wankhede adds an interesting twist, as a significant number of Chennai players hail from Mumbai, creating a sense of hometown rivalry. Among them are Mumbai domestic team's captain Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, Shivam Dubey, and Tushar Deshpande, all of whom could feature in the playing XI. Additionally, this match could mark Dhoni’s final appearance at Wankhede, likely prompting strong support from the yellow army amidst the sea of blue.
While Ruturaj Gaikwad endured a slow start to this year's campaign, he rediscovered his form with a splendid half-century against KKR in the previous match. However, his opening partner Rachin Ravindra has struggled to make an impact in the last three games. The middle order, on the other hand, has seen contributions from the likes of Ajinkya Rahane and Darryl Mitchell on a few occasions. Undoubtedly, Shivam Dube has yet again emerged as a standout performer for CSK, amassing 176 runs at an impressive average of 44. Since joining CSK last season, Dube has displayed a remarkable level of confidence and freedom in his gameplay, evident in his consistent performances.
With a bowling unit comprising Jadeja, Mustafizur Rahman, Maahesha Theekshana, Shardul Thakur, and Tushar Deshpande, CSK's bowling lineup appears formidable compared to Mumbai Indians. Mustafizur has been particularly sensational, claiming 9 wickets in four matches at an astonishing average of just 14.22. Despite bowling in the power plays and death overs, his economy rate of 8 runs per over is commendable. Additionally, his strike rate of 10.67 is only surpassed by Mayank Yadav, making Mustafizur a key asset for CSK in the upcoming clash.
Weather and pitch report: Weather reports from weather.com indicate that Mumbai City will experience a daytime temperature of 33°C on Sunday, which will decrease to 28°C by nighttime.
Anticipate another high-scoring affair tomorrow night, in the first few overs pacers might get some swing and bounce but the pitch might ease up later, making it more favorable for batting. Given the dew factor, winning the toss will likely prompt teams to opt for chasing. Defending anything below 200 could prove challenging. Another chase seems imminent.
Interesting stats and facts:
- MS Dhoni is just 4 catches away from completing 150 catches.
- Ravindra Jadeja has hit exactly 100 sixes, 200 fours and completed 100 catches in IPL.
- Rohit Sharma has completed 100 IPL catches.
- Ishan Kishan needs 15 runs to complete 2500 IPL runs.
- Shreyas Gopal has played exactly 49 matches and picked 49 wickets. He is on cusp of playing 50th match and just one wicket away from completing 50 IPL wickets.
- This will be 250th T20 for Hardik Pandya while 250th Innings for SKY in T20s
- If Shardul Thakur gets a chance, this would be his 50th Match for CSK
- Ruturaj Gaikwad needs 48 Runs to complete 2000 IPL Runs
Match Details:
Time: 7.30 PM (IST)
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
Live Broadcast: Star Sports Network
Live Streaming: Jio Cinema app
Dream XI:
