🏏IPL 2023: Match 49 - CSK vs MI on 06/05/2023 at 3:30 PM IST 🏏

🏏IPL 2023: Match 49 - CSK vs MI at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on 06/05/2023 at 3:30 PM IST 🏏

Tag & Logo Credit: Sevenstreaks

History, momentum in Mumbai Indians' favour as they look to get out of mid-table jam. CSK seem to have run out of gas after being the pace-setters early on, but are still in the top four on the table

MI have the wood on CSK at Chepauk

The last time Chennai Super Kings lost two home games in the league stage of an IPL season was way back in 2013. After they suffered a last-ball defeat to Punjab Kings last weekend, CSK's head coach Stephen Fleming suggested that the Impact Player rule has allowed teams to go harder at oppositions this IPL - both Adam Zampa and Prabhsimran Singh, who had been brought in as Impact Players for the two games, messed with CSK's plans and set them up for rare home defeats.

But even before the introduction of the Impact Player, Mumbai Indians had breached CSK's fortress multiple times. In fact, MI have a dominant 6-2 win-loss record against CSK at Chepauk, and are on a six-match winning streak against CSK at the venue.

MI's recent form is also encouraging: they've won five of their last seven games, with their middle order, in particular, dripping with explosive power and class. Suryakumar Yadav, Tim David and Tilak Varma have all contributed handsomely to MI becoming the first IPL team to hunt down 200-plus totals in back-to-back games. MI also have depth in their spin attack, which will be handy if Chepauk rolls out a black-soil turner.

As for CSK, they seem to have run out of gas after having been the pace-setters in the first half of the season. Ravindra Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu and Moeen Ali are yet to properly fire with the bat while Tushar Deshpande has leaked runs at the death although he has the knack of taking wickets in clusters. Deepak Chahar, who had pulled up injured when CSK and MI last met at the Wankhede, is fit again and could lend some experience and powerplay bite to their attack.

A win for CSK on Saturday could potentially take them back to the top two, while a win for MI could see them break away from the mid-table logjam and enter the top half of the standings.

Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians Pitch Report

The last game played at this venue saw Punjab Kings successfully chasing a 200 total against the home team. A similar surface is expected in MA Chidambaram Stadium that will assist the batters throughout the game. There will be some help for the spinners in the later stages of the game but both teams will prefer chasing at this venue.

Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians Weather Forecast

Some light showers and thunderstorms are expected in Chennai on Saturday. The temperatures are expected to hover between 27 to 33 degrees Celsius.

Pitch and conditions

While the Chepauk pitches in this IPL have offered some purchase for spinners, the true bounce has allowed batters to hit through the line. The overhead conditions were overcast when MI and CSK started training on the eve of the game and there's also some rain forecast for Saturday evening.

Team news - Hrithik Shokeen could return for MI

MI are usually big on match-ups, so they might bring back offspinner Hrithik Shokeen against a left-hander-heavy CSK line-up. There is no official news from CSK's camp on whether Ben Stokes is available for selection - he has been batting and bowling in the nets over the past week. Sisanda Magala has also resumed both batting and bowling in the nets, but with Matheesha Pathirana establishing himself as CSK's go-to death bowler, there is no room for him.

Form guide - (last five matches, most recent first)

Chennai Super Kings: NRLLWW

Mumbai Indians: WWLLW

Impact Player strategy

As far as the Impact Player is concerned, CSK have followed a fairly consistent pattern, with Rayudu replacing one of the bowlers when they chase. They could start with Deshpande if they bowl first and replace him with Rayudu in the second innings, or vice versa.

CSK Probable XII: 1 Devon Conway, 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 3 Ajinkya Rahane, 4 Shivam Dube, 5 Ambati Rayudu, 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 MS Dhoni (capt, wk), 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Matheesha Pathirana, 12 Tushar Deshpande

If the Chepauk pitch plays true to its nature, MI could consider using left-arm-all-sorts spinner Kumar Kartikeya as an Impact Player and strengthen their spin attack even further. Suryakumar might make way for Kartikeya if MI go down this route.

MI Probable XII: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Cameron Green, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Tim David, 7 Nehal Wadhera, 8 Piyush Chawla, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Hrithik Shokeen, 11 Akash Madhwal/Arshad Khan, 12 Kumar Kartikeya

Stats and Trivia

• David has a strike rate of 199 between overs 16 and 20 this season - the highest among batters who have faced at least 60 balls in this phase. Jadeja, in comparison, has struck at only 146 in this phase.
• MI have the worst death-overs economy rate (13.36) in the IPL. CSK have fared much better in this phase, conceding 10.47 an over.
• Piyush Chawla has a good head-to-head record against Rayudu in the IPL, having dismissed him six times in 13 innings while giving up only nine boundaries in 53 balls against him.
• Rohit Sharma holds the unwanted record of having bagged the joint-most ducks in the IPL. Dinesh Karthik, Mandeep Singh and Sunil Narine have also collected 15 ducks each in the tournament.

Quotes

"We've played [Lasith] Malinga in the nets when I came here in Mumbai Indians and that gives us a lot of confidence. He was a legend and we did practice well when he was bowling, so we will just look to watch the ball and play our own game."

Ishan Kishan feels the familiarity of having played Malinga at the MI nets will help them pick Pathirana

It's been almost a month since Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians faced off at the Wankhede. Quite interestingly, the surface played to CSK's strengths as they walked out winners comfortably. The spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner caused damage with the ball and Ajinkya Rahane's renaissance kickstarted on the same evening. And now 48 games into the tournament, the two teams are pretty much in the same territory. CSK have played an extra game and have an extra point at their disposal. However, their form has been contrasting. Mumbai Indians are on a high after chasing down targets over 200 twice in their last two games and CSK have not won in their last three.

CSK definitely need a win now. They aren't in dangerous territory but a fourth straight game without a win might easily set panic in the camp with the race for playoff spots intensifying. This contest will kickstart a home run for the four-time champions that will see them play their next three games at Chepauk.

Winning all three isn't straightforward though despite their proud home record. This season, they have already been defeated twice here and their head coach Stephen Fleming admitted that they are still trying to get used to the conditions having not played here a lot in recent years. The fact that the wickets haven't aided spin as much as they were expected to has complicated matters.

Two wins in a single season over their arch-rivals MI is a rarity for CSK. Since returning in 2018, CSK haven't beaten MI at home. They certainly have an opportunity now on Saturday to correct that record but they would love a bit of home advantage in terms of the pitch to aid them in their bid.

MI on the other hand would hope for a batting beauty given how their batting lineup has fared recently. Suryakumar Yadav has returned to his best, Cameron Green and Ishan Kishan have been chipping in, Tilak Varma has looked impressive and Tim David has been providing the finishing touch. Rohit Sharma did have a long session at the nets before the game and the five-time champions would hope their skipper ends his lean run in style.

Thanks For The Tag ♡♡

Not interested in this El Clasico 😅

What to expect: There could be some rain in the vicinity on match day. However, the sky is expected to be clear during noon. Doubts remain over the surface given we haven't really seen the spinners dominate at Chepauk.

Team Watch

Chennai Super Kings

There is a case for Mitchell Santner to replace Maheesh Theekshana in the XI. The New Zealand allrounder did pose problems when the teams faced each other last month and Theekshana has been leaking runs this season. MS Dhoni looked in great touch in the nets and there have been calls for him to bat at least ahead of 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 force his way back into the XI given the amount of left-handers CSK have 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

Tactics & Matchups: Piyush Chawla has been in great form this season. While he might not have a great record against Rahane as mentioned above, the leggie does have a favourable matchup against Dhoni, Jadeja and Rayudu.