Chennai Super Kings. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
After stamping their authority against arch-rivals Mumbai Indians, MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are gearing up for their next assignment. The side will be up against David Warner’s Delhi Capitals (DC) as they square off in match 55 of the ongoing IPL 2023 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday, May 10.
Speaking about their head-to-head records in the last five meetings, Delhi have the slight upper hand with three wins to Chennai’s two. With the fag end of the season approaching, the yellow outfit will be raring to cement their spot in the playoffs, whereas Delhi will look for the two points to keep their top-four spot hopes alive.
Let’s look at Chennai Super Kings’ probable playing XI against Delhi Capitals:
Openers: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway
Devon Conway. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
Devon Conway carved out a rather delicate knock against Mumbai as he got 44 off 42 balls which included four boundaries at a strike rate of 104.76. However, Conway is relishing a magnificent season, having scored 458 runs in 10 appearances at a brilliant average of 57.25, lacing it with five half-centuries thus far.
On the other hand, Ruturaj Gaikwad is unable to convert his scores into bigger innings and will be gunning for an improved outing against Delhi. Though, he swiftly hit the ground running against Mumbai, cracking a 16-ball 30 featuring two maximums and four boundaries at a strike rate of 187.50, his knock came to a screeching halt in the first six overs. Of the 10 matches played thus far, Gaikwad has 384 runs at an average of 42.67.
Middle-order: Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni (c & wk)
MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: Twitter)
In the middle order, Ajinkya Rahane failed to come out all guns blazing in his previous outing against Mumbai, as he only managed to score 21 of 17 balls, which included one four and a six before getting dismissed. However, a change in his batting approach since the start of the season has helped cement his position in the XI and the think tank will back him to find his rhythm in the upcoming matches.
Shivam Dube clobbered three maximums in his unbeaten knock of 26 off 18 balls, at a strike rate of 144.44 against the five-time winners. Much like Rahane, Dube too saw a change in his fortune as he got to his lethal best and displayed his explosive-hitting exploits on numerous occasions. The Southpaw has collected 290 runs in 10 matches at a decent average of 36.25 and will be gunning to score big in the next assignment for CSK.
Of the limited opportunities with the bat, skipper MS Dhoni has been able to display his aggressive form by getting the big runs. Additionally, his decision-making has been bang on point for the side and he will be vying to make the right calls as he usually is known for, in the forthcoming matches.
All-rounders: Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, and Moeen Ali proved to be slightly expensive in the previous match against Mumbai. While Moeen leaked 10 runs in his solitary over with no breakthroughs, Jadeja on the other hand, gave away 37 runs in his four overs with an economy of 9.25, getting one wicket to his name.
Despite this, Jadeja has claimed 15 wickets in his 11 outings, at an average economy of 7.38 and an individual best of 3/20, in the ongoing IPL 2023. In addition to this, the all-rounder pair can provide the big runs coming down the order and help the side obtain favourable results. An improved outing will be expected from the two in the upcoming game against Delhi.
Bowlers: Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana
Deepak Chahar. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Courtesy of a disciplined performance by the CSK bowling unit, the yellow outfit was able to restrict Mumbai to a paltry first-innings total of 139 runs in their 20 overs. Matheesha Pathirana relished a stupendous outing in the previous match as the rival batting unit was hardly able to target him for the big runs.
In addition to this, he concluded his four overs with a magnificent economy rate of 3.75, having given away 15 runs and claiming three wickets. Like Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana too proved to be economical for the side, as he gave just 28 runs in his four overs, concluding with a decent economy of 7.00.
Tushar Deshpande and Deepak Chahar too came all guns blazing as they got two wickets apiece with brilliant economies of 6.50 and 6.00, respectively. The bowling attack will look to replicate a similar kind of performance in the forthcoming match against Delhi.
CSK’s Probable Playing XI:
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Probable Impact Players:
Akash Singh, Simarjeet Singh, Prashant Solanki, Ben Stokes, Ambati Rayudu
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