IPL 2024: Predicting Chennai Super Kings’ Playing XI for their clash against Punjab Kings

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 has been entertaining with several records having been broken so far in the tournament. The game has been tilted more towards the batters as the teams have crossed 200+ plus runs and have been scored a record 28 times in the 48 games so far. This season 250+ plus have been chased down easily after 262 runs were done by Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens. The bowlers have been smashed all around the park with nothing favouring them. 

For the last two games, the pitches have favoured the bowlers. In match no.49 Chennai Super Kings will be facing Punjab Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, the pitch has behaved a similar way it has been slow and turning favouring the bowlers. 

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s side are currently placed third in the league table as 5 games still remain for the side they would like to qualify for the playoffs and also eye for the top 2 spots. With PBKS coming after a great run chase the game will be an entertaining one. In the article, we will be looking at predicting Chennai’s playing XI against Punjab 

Predicted playing XI for Chennai Super Kings:

Openers (Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ajinkya Rahane) 

Ruturaj Gaikwad, since the announcement of the captaincy, has been the standout performer for the side and has been leading from the front. The leader for the Men in Yellow has scored 447 runs in 9 innings in the current season and became the first player in IPL 2024 to score a century. He was unlucky in his previous innings as he got out on 98 runs. 

Ajinkya Rahane, the experienced campaigner has been struggling with form. Rahane’s batting position has not been fixed as he came at No.3 at some games and has opened in some, however, he needs to support Gaikwad at the top of the order. 

Middle Order (Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali)

Daryl Mitchell, after being provided with a hefty amount in the auction, has not been a standout performer with a change in the batting positions. However, the Kiwi performed in the last game scoring a half-century and giving brilliant support to Gaikwad. 

Shivam Dube has been the pillar in the middle order for the Men in Yellow. The all-rounder has played some amazing quick-fire innings for the side. Dube has been the second-highest run scorer for the side. He has scored 350 with an average of 58.33 with three fifties in 9 games. 

Moeen Ali did not start for CSK but in the last four games but in the last four games he has been part of the side picking up two wickets and scoring 30 runs. However, his batting has not come in most of the matches. 

Wicket-keeper and All-rounder (MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja) 

MS Dhoni since giving up the captaincy, has come to bat earlier in the innings when three or two overs left and played small cameos towards the end of the innings and been brilliant behind the wickets helping the newly appointed captain as well. 

Ravindra Jadeja has played in all the games for the side scoring 157 runs at an average of 78.50, and played some good innings in the middle overs for CSK. Jadeja’s bowling has been a concern as he has picked 5 wickets. 

Bowlers (Deepak Chahar, Mustafizur Rahman, Tushar Deshpande, Matheesha Pathirana)

Deepak Chahar’s form has not been a concern for the side. Chahar has played in 7 games picking up 5 wickets with average, which has been poor as well and his economy has not been good as he has not been able to pick wickets in the power play consistently. 

Mustafizur Rahman has been the star for CSK’s bowling, as he has picked 14 wickets for the side in just 8 games though he has an economy over 9 but he has been lethal for them with his cutters in a pitch like Chennai. 

Tushar Deshpande has been in consistent form after failing in some initial matches. The pacer has picked 10 wickets for the side in 9 games. Deshpande has been good in the powerplay. 

Matheesha Pathirana is the second-highest wicket-taker for the side as he has picked 13 wickets in just 6 games, the SriLankan speedster has been lethal in the middle overs and in the death as well. 

Impact Sub: Shardul Thakur

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