Dhoni, hewn from granite, has seemingly become more indomitable as captain in his twilight, while for Hardik Pandya, a successful title defence could lead to his anointment as India’s future T20I captain.
The Tuesday evening IPL 2023 Qualifier 1 between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat elephants (GT) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai will see tactics, faceoffs, and over all, raw feelings take centre stage. After all, if this indeed turns out to be MS Dhoni’s farewell IPL season, it’s Chepauk’s last chance to savour its Thala in action.
Chennai’s key players have set up form constantly, most specially the openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway, with their silky wrists, and that exacting power- megahit, Shivam Dube, all of whom constitute CSK’s machine room that has churned out success this time.
Important like the Super lords, the elephants have had every member of their platoon make a telling donation at some point in the event. They chased down 198 against RCB in the last league game, their loftiest successful chase, with royal ease, thanks largely to the quietly superb Shubman Gill, who comes to Chennai riding on back- to- back hundreds.
Also, GT’s bowling attack suggests lesser depth and penetration than its opponent’s. Mohammed Shami’s lively pace, coupled with his awful displays of confluence and swing, has not lowered over the last month, while Mohit Sharma, despite going for 54 in his four overs against RCB, remains composed enough with the ball in his hand to trouble the stylish batters.
Still, it’s spin bowling from the resourceful Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad that gives Gujarat a slight edge in the field. They’ve sailed more adroitly in the competition than their CSK counterparts. However, the dogfight between Rashid and his contrary number, Ravindra Jadeja, If the ball turns.
Rashid’s sweepstakes with Gaikwad could be pivotal. He has dismissed him two times in five T20 innings and conceded only 66 runs in 45 balls. still, Ambati Rayudu has had the edge over Rashid in the IPL, scoring 82 runs off 69 balls without being dismissed. Meanwhile, Matheesha Pathirana, CSK’s death- overs specialist, will pose a stiff challenge for GT finishers David Miller and Rahul Tewatia. He has 15 lattices in 10 games this season.
The M.A. Chidambaram Stadium is the alternate-slowest scoring venue this season, with a run rate of8.43. The elephants are scoring at12.02 between overs 17 – 20, so it’ll be intriguing to see how they acclimate to the slowness of the Chepauk face.
All said and done, Dhoni, hewn from determinedness, has putatively come more insuperable as captain in his twilight, while for Hardik Pandya, a successful title defence could lead to his anointment as India’s future T20I captain. The emblematic significance isn’t lost in the larger environment of Indian justice. Know More IPL News…
