TACTICAL PREVIEW
Follow UsChennai Super Kings (CSK) play their next three matches at the Chepauk, starting with the clash against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as they make a push to make it through to the playoffs. If they go through this stretch unscathed, they would have taken a massive step in ensuring they finish in the top four.
Chepauk has been Chennai's fortress for years and have known to consistently win 5-6 matches here, which has been a driving force behind their success. KL Rahul's men may have bested them at the Ekana three days ago, but it will be a different proposition as they enter MS Dhoni's den.
Both sides are level on points going into this clash and have a few problems they need to address, be it CSK's opening conundrum or Quinton de Kock's poor form at Chepauk. LSG showed a few days ago that they are more than capable of going toe-to-toe with CSK and emerging on top. If they can carry a similar attitude on April 23 (Tuesday), they could very well walk out of Chepauk with two priceless points. It could certainly be on the cards.
CSK vs LSG Head-to-Head
Overall - Games 4 | CSK 1 | LSG 2 | NR 1
In Chennai - Games 1 | CSK 1 | LSG 0
Venue details
The MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, has uncharacteristically seen the pacers dominate proceedings in IPL 2024 so far. They have picked up over 73% of the wickets at an economy rate of 8.5, which is significantly more than the spinners, who have conceded at 7.6 an over. However, the fast bowlers have struck at regular intervals, picking up a wicket every 25.8 runs, 18.2 balls apart. The corresponding numbers for the spinners are 34.4 and 27.1, respectively.
The average first innings total here this season has been 172/7, and the team winning the toss and opting to bowl first has won both matches.
Weather forecast
The temperature in Chennai on Tuesday is expected to be between 31-32°C. However, it is the humidity of 78% that could really tire out the players. However, the could news for those watching is that we will certainly have a full game in without any rain delays.
Things to watch out for
A new role for Jadeja?
After consistent performances with the ball, Ravindra Jadeja came good with the bat in the last game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) when he slammed just his third IPL fifty. He came in to bat at four, when the powerplay was on and his unbeaten 57 off just 40 deliveries helped CSK get to a competitive total.
However, will he be given a longer rope in that position or was it just a top-gap option to counter LSG? When it comes to bowling, Jadeja has been among the best bowlers in the last two IPLs (since 2023), especially in the middle overs, where he has picked up 24 wickets (highest) at an economy of 7.4.
In this period, he has also been excellent while bowling first, picking up 16 wickets, conceding at 6.7 an over (Ave 16.4, SR 14.6), as compared to bowling second, where he has picked up just eight wickets at an economy rate of 8.5 (Ave 45.5, SR 32.3).
Can Stoinis turn it around?
Marcus Stoinis has had a lukewarm season by his standards. He has not found his timing yet, which has seen him being dismissed in the middle-overs on five occasions so far. Moreover, he has really struggled against spin, with five of his six dismissals coming against them, striking at just 104. His strike rate, however, goes up to 168 against the pacers.
He could not have come up against CSK at a worse time, given that he has managed just 92 runs at 18.4 (second-lowest average against any team) in seven innings, scoring at a strike rate of 135.
Can the Australian all-rounder get back to his best in this game?
Probable XIs
LSG head coach Justin Langer hinted that tearaway pacer Mayank Yadav could be in line to return for this game after missing the last few matches due to an injury. There are no fresh injury concerns for CSK, with pacer Deepak Chahar returning the fold after missing the match against Mumbai due to a niggle.
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Rachin Ravindra, Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mustafizur Rahman, Matheesha Pathirana; Sameer Rizvi/Shardul Thakur (IP)
Lucknow Super Giants: Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul (c & wk), Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Matt Henry, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Yash Thakur; M. Siddharth/Devdutt Padikkal (IP)
Telecast and streaming details
The match will be live on Star Sports Network and live-streamed on Jio Cinema. The game will start at 7:30 PM, with the toss happening at 7 PM.
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