Chennai Super Kings will lean on their formidable spin power beneath beneficial situations on the Chepauk in addition to current file towards Mumbai Indians when the 2 sides face one another in their Indian Premier League (IPL) marketing campaign opener in Chennai on Sunday (March 23, 2025).
Five-time winners CSK augmented their spin assault in the IPL mega public sale final yr by together with Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad Shreyas Gopal and Deepak Hooda, with India veteran Ravindra Jadeja additionally in the combo.
CSK’s pre-season strikes point out how the spin-friendly situations on the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai might be a significant component in their recreation plan. Starting their season towards an equally formidable opponent in Mumbai Indians, this technique might effectively ship the products proper from the start.
For CSK, MS Dhoni would be the cynosure of all eyes as soon as once more, having remained with the group because the inception of the IPL in 2008.
On the opposite hand, the absence of India bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah might be acutely felt in the MI ranks because the right-arm pacer stays on a comeback path from a back-related problem which has saved him sidelined to date this yr.
Bumrah is anticipated to overlook the preliminary phases of this IPL and his absence will depart MI with out their deadly weapon in the dying overs, presenting the administration with a headache to work with different choices and methods.
MI can even be with out common skipper Hardik Pandya for this conflict because the India all-rounder serves a one-match ban for the facet’s sluggish over-rate in their closing league match final yr.
But for a group which has no dearth of management choices, MI can have India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav main them in their event opener and necessary away conflict.
CSK face a wholesome choice conundrum for the opening slot with one among the many two Kiwis, Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway, set to accomplice skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad on the prime.
The center order is about to function the likes of Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Hooda and Vijay Shankar, adopted by Dhoni and Jadeja.
Among the beneficial components is CSK’s current file of 4 wins in their final 5 matches over Mumbai Indians together with three victories in final as many video games.
Pandya’s appointment as MI skipper, changing Rohit Sharma, closely marred the five-time IPL winners’ marketing campaign final season the place that they had completed on the backside. The squad seems to be effectively settled now after the turmoils of final season.
Even although Ishan Kishan’s exit has left a void on the prime, the explosive South African wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton might be anticipated to match Rohit’s firepower on the prime, adopted by India batting mainstays Suryakumar and Tilak Varma in the center.
While MI must wait to discipline their desired quick bowling assault which includes a mixture of veterans in Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar and Reece Topley and Bumrah, the presence of Corbin Bosch makes issues attention-grabbing as to how their assume tank is ready to use their sources optimally.
Former CSK frontman Mitchell Santner’s expertise and information of situations at Chepauk is prone to come in useful together with Karn Sharma and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
Sunday’s contest between CSK and MI might additionally give some impressions of how the ball-change rule in the second innings performs out.
Teams (from):
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Shaik Rasheed, Vansh Bedi (wk), C Andre Siddharth, Rachin Ravindra, Ravichandran Ashwin, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Anshul Kamboj, Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Shreyas Gopal, Matheesha Pathirana.
Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Robin Minz, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Shrijith Krishnan (wk), Bevon Jacobs, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Will Jacks, Mitchell Santner, Raj Angad Bawa, Vignesh Puthur, Corbin Bosch, Trent Boult, Karn Sharma, Deepak Chahar, Ashwani Kumar, Reece Topley, VS Penmetsa, Arjun Tendulkar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Jasprit Bumrah.
Match begins at 7:30PM IST.
Published – March 22, 2025 02:34 pm IST
