The business end of the IPL is upon us, where top-ranked Mumbai take on second-placed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk. The advantage of finishing in the top-two means that both sides will have a chance to fight for a place in the finals again even if they lose this game.
CSK will be playing at their home ground, where they won six of their seven games held at the Chepauk this season. The only defeat that came was at the hands of MI, their opponents on the day. Though CSK lost their last league game against Punjab, they will walk into Qualifier 1 with plenty of confidence. They have looked unbeatable this IPL 2019, and especially at home, they seem almost invincible. They have however suffered a setback with the injury to Kedar Jadhav, but they have a strong bench strength.
Though MI won a good game against KKR that saw them take the top position, they will find it tough against a CSK unit at home. With crowd support not in their favour, they might be the underdogs.
Pitch Conditions: The track at Chennai has always kept low and slow, with the team winning the toss often choosing to bat first. One can expect the track to play similarly as well for this game.
Player Recommendations:
Wicket-keeper: Quinton de Kock (9.5 credits)
De Kock came into the IPL with form behind him, and he has carried that forward into this year's tournament as well. He
The business end of the IPL is upon us, where top-ranked Mumbai take on second-placed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk. The advantage of finishing in the top-two means that both sides will have a chance to fight for a place in the finals again even if they lose this game.
CSK will be playing at their home ground, where they won six of their seven games held at the Chepauk this season. The only defeat that came was at the hands of MI, their opponents on the day. Though CSK lost their last league game against Punjab, they will walk into Qualifier 1 with plenty of confidence. They have looked unbeatable this IPL 2019, and especially at home, they seem almost invincible. They have however suffered a setback with the injury to Kedar Jadhav, but they have a strong bench strength.
Though MI won a good game against KKR that saw them take the top position, they will find it tough against a CSK unit at home. With crowd support not in their favour, they might be the underdogs.
Pitch Conditions: The track at Chennai has always kept low and slow, with the team winning the toss often choosing to bat first. One can expect the track to play similarly as well for this game.
Player Recommendations:
Wicket-keeper: Quinton de Kock (9.5 credits)
De Kock came into the IPL with form behind him, and he has carried that forward into this year's tournament as well. He is MI's highest run-scorer with 492 runs in 14 innings with four fifties and finds a spot amongst the top-five run-getters of this season. He opens the innings, which gives him a massive advantage over Dhoni, who bats down the order.
Batsman: Faf du Plessis (9 credits)
The South African missed the first few games of the season and had been warming the benches. But he has shown his worth in the chances that followed, and since then has hold on to his place. In nine games, he amassed 314 runs with a high score of 96 in 55 balls that came against Kings XI Punjab in CSK's last game. Though his efforts went in vain, he showed how integral he is in the line-up, and with Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu and to an extent even Suresh Raina not firing as per expectations, he will hold the key.
All-rounder: Hardik Pandya (10.5 credits)
The younger Pandya brother has been on fire in this edition, and has impressed both with his hitting and his bowling skills. What has stood out has been his self-confidence and the fearless, which has been on display every time his team has been on the back foot. He has 380 runs that has been scored with a strike-rate of 197.35, and has 14 wickets to go with it.
Bowler: Imran Tahir (9.5 credits)
The South African has enjoyed bowling on the sluggish track at Chepauk, and his 21 wickets stake a claim to that. He has kept things tight as well, and with the opponents having a few iffy performers, Tahir would be eager to latch on and add to his tally. With Rabada, the highest wicket-taker in IPL 2019 with 25 wickets, ruled out, Tahir has a chance to stake a claim to the Purple Cap.
Uncapped Player: Suryakumar Yadav (9 credits)
Suryakumar has not performed as per expectations, but helped his team across the line in the last game against KKR. He would want to show off his mettle in a crucial game, and the fact that he plays spin well should aid his performance.
Captain: Imran Tahir
Vice-captain: Harbhajan Singh
Alternative for VC: Hardik Pandya
Predicted Playing XI:
Mumbai Indians: Quinton de Kock (wk), Rohit Sharma (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Mitchell McClenaghan, Rahul Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga
Chennai Super Kings: Murali Vijay, Faf du Plessis, Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c/wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir
