MI vs CSK: The big picture
The El Classico (MI vs CSK) of the Indian Elite League, as Jaydev Unadkat affectionately refers to it, has arrived a bit too late in the 2022 season, with both premier sides languishing at the bottom of the 10-team league with a combined one win in 12 games. It’s no longer enough to be Classico.
The good news about Thursday’s game is that at least one side will hopefully make a much-needed step forward in the competition, while the other will continue to teeter on the edge of elimination.
There hasn’t been much success for either team, particularly in the bowling department. Even Jasprit Bumrah, who has been extremely frugal, has been unable to frighten the opponents.
The opposition camp, which has been unable to find a suitable alternative for Deepak Chahar, is also concerned. Chris Jordan’s failures in the death overs have just added to their worries.
Since the addition of Maheesh Theekshana, though, there has been a considerable alteration in their bowling attack. CSK’s bowlers only took one wicket in Powerplay in the first three games. They have picked six in three matches since Theekshana arrived, with the Sri Lankan spinner picking four.
MI vs CSK: Match Details
What: Match 33 pits Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings.
When: April 21, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. IST
Where: Dr. DY Patil Stadium is the location.
What to expect: Throughout the match, temperatures are forecast to remain in the early to mid-30s, but humidity will be lower – approximately 40 to 50 percent. The fielders, as well as the batters who may have to do a lot of running, will be put to the test on the larger ground at the DY Patil Stadium.
Head to head: Mumbai Indians 19 – 13 Chennai Super Kings. They have played a total of 32 matches.
Also Read: IPL 2022: DC vs RR Match 34 Prediction
MI vs CSK: Team-wise tactics and strategies
Mumbai Indians
In the death overs, Bumrah will be crucial in containing CSK’s attack. MS Dhoni and Shivam Dube have had difficulty hitting the MI pacer. Dwayne Bravo took him apart once, but he has struggled against him in subsequent games. Kieron Pollard has bowled a lot against CSK and has 14 wickets against them, which is the most he has against any opponent in the IPL.
Probable XI: Ishan Kishan (wk), Rohit Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Kieron Pollard, Fabian Allan, Jaydev Unadkat, Murugan Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Tymal Mills
Chennai Super Kings
Ravindra Jadeja has done an excellent job of containing Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav. If the MI skipper gets off to a good start, he could come on much sooner in the innings.
Probable XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwaine Pretorius, Dwayne Bravo, Maheesh Theekshana, Mukesh Choudhary.
MI vs CSK: Trivia
Batting first teams have scored 170+ runs in 17 games, winning 12 of them. Four of the five occasions 170+ totals have been successfully chased down have occurred at the same location – Brabourne.
CSK have lost five of their first six matches, and the only other time it happened to them in a season (two overlapping sequences in 2020), they failed to make the Play-Offs. If they lose to MI on Thursday, it will be the first time in their history that they have dropped six games in a row.
MI’s six-match losing skid in 2022 is already their longest in the IPL, and no side has ever started an IPL season with seven losses. Thursday.
