Big picture: Same record, different trajectories
GT are coming into this game on the back of two defeats. While CSK’s problems are related to Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube’s form, GT’s are structural. In the absence of a strong middle order, their top three are forced to play low-risk cricket. That has resulted in GT taking 18.3 balls on average to hit a six, the worst rate in the tournament. For context, Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru clear the boundary every 7.6 and 9.4 balls, respectively. GT’s approach puts pressure on their bowling attack to deliver the goods, which is not always possible in this era of Impact Player and flat pitches.
Chennai Super Kings WLWWL (last five matches, most recent first)
Gujarat Titans LLWWW
Team news: No MS Dhoni yet
Chennai Super Kings (probable): 1 Sanju Samson (wk), 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), 3 Sarfaraz Khan, 4 Shivam Dube, 5 Dewald Brevis, 6 Kartik Sharma, 7 Jamie Overton, 8 Akeal Hosein, 9 Noor Ahmad, 10 Anshul Kamboj, 11 Mukesh Choudhary, 12 Gurjapneet Singh
GT, too, may not tinker with their combination.
Gujarat Titans (probable): 1 Shubman Gill (capt), 2 Sai Sudharsan, 3 Jos Buttler (wk), 4 Washington Sundar, 5 Jason Holder, 6 Shahrukh Khan, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 Rahul Tewatia, 9 Manav Suthar, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Mohammed Siraj, 12 Prasidh Krishna
In the spotlight: Akeal Hosein and Prasidh Krishna
Pitch and conditions: Win toss, bat first?
The match will be played on pitch no. 6. Of the last five IPL games played on this particular surface, teams batting first have won three. Given it’s an afternoon match – and the weather is expected to be hot and humid – there is a case to bat first after winning the toss.
“How can I forget MS [Dhoni]? He is progressing well. He is on the road to recovery and doing everything that’s being asked of him.”
CSK head coach Stephen Felming on MS Dhoni
“[A strong top order] means they will invariably end up playing most balls. So it’s difficult for the middle order, as they don’t get enough game time. But we are pretty happy with what we have. They have not clicked in some of the games but it’s an advantage to have such a top order.”
GT assistant coach Vijay Dahiya
