Chennai Super Kings, fresh on the back of their maiden win in this edition of the IPL against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at home on Friday, will want to make it two in a row when they host their newly-minted arch-rivals Gujarat Titans at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday, March 26.
Gujarat know that they will have a lot on their plate given the challenges CSK pose to every team they play against. The latter are veritable giants of this tournament. They continue to showcase their worth season after season. Their hegemony is shown by the five IPL titles they have won so far.
GT will have to bank upon their scarce knowledge of these conditions, which often favour CSK’s star-studded spin-bowling lineup. However, in the inaugural game, CSK’s seamer Mustafizur Rahman lit up the show with his antics on the pitch. GT will have to take a lot of factors into the equation.
Predicted Teams
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Rachin Ravindra, Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Ravindra Jadeja, Sameer Rizvi, MS Dhoni (wk), Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana, Mustafizur Rahman, Tushar Deshpande.
Punjab Kings: Shubman Gill (c), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Kane Williamson, Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Umesh Yadav.
Key Players
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (CSK): The India legend, perhaps playing in his final IPL season, will be one of the players to watch out for in the CSK lineup. With his sharp eye for detail from behind the stumps, Dhoni is known for his accuracy. He can also hit the ball a long way and change the equation in favour of CSK.
Shubman Gill (GT): GT’s newly minted skipper, Shubman Gill, is one of the players who can change the complexion of this game. He is in fine form at the moment and comes into this tournament on the back of a brilliant Test series against England at home.
Match Prediction
Undoubtedly, CSK are the overwhelming favourites to win this game among the finalists of last year’s IPL. CSK will also bank on home advantage and look to continue in the same vein of form as they did against RCB on Friday. This momentum should carry them forward and give them their second two points of the season.
