Chennai Super Kings Team. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will continue their traditional rivalry in the 12th match of the Indian Premier League 2023 (IPL) at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, April 8. Mumbai started their IPL 2023 campaign with a disappointing eight-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore and now face Chennai, who recorded a 12-run win over Lucknow Super Giants in their last game.
The Rohit Sharma-led side was facing pre-tournament issues with injury clouds lurking over Jasprit Bumrah and Jhye Richardson and that clearly reflected against Bangalore. Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav’s poor form continued while Rohit’s last season struggles were on the display again. Rohit faced ten deliveries but he managed to score just one run before getting out.
Apart from the above trio, Mumbai fans were expecting a big bang from their record-signing Cameron Green. The Australian pace all-rounder played at the number three position but was bowled for just five runs. Green also proved ineffective with the ball as he conceded 30 runs in his two-over spell with Dinesh Karthik’s late consolation wicket.
Mumbai’s run came from Tilak Verma’s brave career-best T20 knock of 84* off 46. The youngster dragged Mumbai’s innings from 123/7 in the 17.1 overs to 171/7 in 20 overs. Tim David, who started ahead of Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Brevis, scored just four runs. A much-changed bowling attack also struggled for an opening and is likely to reflect similar performances throughout the season.
Chennai Super Kings recorded a much-needed win against Lucknow after a disappointing display against Gujarat Titans in the opening clash. MS Dhoni kept his faith in the same playing XI and they delivered with positive performances. Ruturaj Gaikwad continued his form with another impressive fifty.
Devon Conway was quick to get into a rhythm with a 47-run knock but English star Ben Stokes remains unsettled with his new team. He played at the no. five position and scored just eight of eight which put a little stop to Chennai’s rhythm. Stokes’s struggle with the ball was further disappointing as he conceded 18 off his one over.
Sisanda Magala is available for selection and enters IPL 2023 with some serious form. The South African pace all-rounder is likely to replace Mitchell Santer to provide some boost to their ineffective pace attack ahead of a big game.
Pitch and Conditions
The pitch at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium offers a pure batting-friendly surface in T20 cricket. Both teams are likely to keep quality big-hitters as their Impact Player options and might use them according to the conditions. The average first innings scored here is 168 in over 100 IPL games with teams batting second winning more games as compared to teams batting first.
Probable Playing XI for MI vs CSK
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians pulled off a brilliant total against Royals Challengers Bangalore after an early collapse. Tilak Verma smashed an unbeaten half-century but Mumbai’s top order was at its worst. But the management is unlikely to make big decisions after just one game and can field a similar playing eleven. Riley Meredith has joined the camp as a replacement for Jhye Richarson but is likely to be benched for the clash against CSK.
Probable Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Cameron Green, Tilak Verma, Nehal Wadhera, Tim David, Hrithik Shokeen, Arshad Khan, Jofra Archer, Jason Behrendorff
Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings recorded a 12-run win against Lucknow but it was not a convincing effort and Dhoni also pointed it out after the game. Stokes remains without a big impact but will keep his place due to his stature. Chennai’s real concern is their bowling, the pace unit is looking thin and the spin attack is proving ineffective.
New signing Sisanda Magala is available for selection and might start in place of Mitchell Santner as Wankhede Stadium’s pitch is unlikely to favour spinners.
Probable Playing XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Shivam Dube, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Sisanda Magala, Deepak Chahar, Rajvardhan Hangargekar
MI vs CSK Head to head
Played – 34 Mumbai Indians – 20