Team news:
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians have had the advantage of a mini-break before the final by the virtue of winning the first qualifier. But as Friday night's game at Visakhapatnam unfolded, it brought them a match-up vs conditions dilemma. On a spinning Chepauk pitch, MI opted to bench Mitchell McClenaghan despite his previous game returns, just to bring in an offspinner in Jayant Yadav to trouble Suresh Raina early.
The CSK No.3 came with the reputation of getting better with the bat as the tournament progressed and has been particularly proficient in the knockouts. In the first qualifier though, MI's move worked like a charm - Jayant claimed Raina's wicket in his first over.
Going with the same team should be ideal then, but what of the conditions? Fast bowlers have thrived on the Hyderabad pitch this year, and SRH's left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahemd's numbers at home (10 wickets in 4 games) might tempt Rohit Sharma to bring back McClenaghan.
Probable XI: Quinton de Kock, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Rahul Chahar, Jayant Yadav/Mitchell McClenaghan, Lasith Malinga, Jasprit Bumrah
Chennai Super Kings
Going a batsman short against a Kagiso Rabada-less, bits-and-pieces Delhi Capitals bowling attack was a calculated move. But can such a decision come easy when it has to be carried off against the Jasprit Bumrah-fuelled bowling machinery of Mumbai Indians? Unlikely.
Shardul Thakur replaced Murali Vijay for the second qualifier, only to bowl just a single over. There's a good chance then, CSK will revert to including an extra batsman in the line-up.
Probable XI: Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir, Shardul Thakur/Murali Vijay, Deepak Chahar
When in Hyderabad...
- Mumbai Indians looked ordinary with the bat, and lost their way early while trying to force the pace of the game. They started with an abysmal PowerPlay, and worsened exponentially then on, only for Kieron Pollard to hold it all together with a cameo. And then Joseph ran riot.
- Chennai Super Kings didn't particularly enjoy batting either. The trip to Hyderabad came at a time when CSK had won six out of their seven games - with four of those coming on sluggish pitches at home. But they just couldn't cope in Hyderabad through the middle-overs, and ended up with a sub-par total that David Warner & Co. easily surmounted. The good news though, is that Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis - CSK's twin architects from their Q2 victory - got their eye in in that fixture.
Did you know:
- Mumbai Indians enjoy a 16-11 head-to-head tally against CSK. It's down to 4-4 in knockouts/playoffs, while MI have a 2-1 advantage in finals.
- Each of Mumbai Indians' five final appearances is against a Dhoni side [CSK in 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2019; RPS in 2017].
- CSK have won 12 out of 16 tosses this IPL
No comments:
Post a Comment