FANTASY
Follow UsChennai Super Kings (CSK) welcome Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their fortress Chepauk as they look to build on their impressive eight-run against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a high-scoring fixture. SRH, on the other hand, are currently languishing in ninth position in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 table.
CSK have been dominant against SRH in the IPL, winning 13 of the 18 games against them, including four out of the last five.
Ground details
In IPL 2023 so far, the spinners have had a larger say at Chepauk, having notched up close to 60% of the wickets. They have done so with an impressive economy rate of 8.1, an average of 19.3 and strike-rate of 19.3, The pacers though have struggled to make an impact, conceding at close to 11 an over here and striking once every 22.9 deliveries, 40.7 runs apart.
However, in T20 cricket since 2020, it is in fact the pacers who have the higher share of wickets (55), yet the spinners have been less expensive and have struck more regularly compared to the fast bowlers.
So far, the two matches this season have been relatively high-scoring affairs with all teams scoring at least 170. With dew likely to come in, given the humidity is going to be between 60 and 85 percent throughout the day, the team winning the toss will have no hesitation in electing to field first. In the two games, though, the team batting first have successfully defended their total after being put into bat.
Suggested team
While you could go for the above team, you can choose your team from Cricket.com's Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
Suggested captains
For small league: Moeen Ali (capt), Aiden Markram (vice-capt)
For grand league: Devon Conway (capt), Mayank Markande (vice-capt)
Stats that matter
CSK have had no problems in scoring at a brisk rate this season, having gotten their runs at 9.7 an over, second only to Rajasthan (9.9). However, SRH remain in the opposite end of the table, having scored at a run-rate of 8.3, with only Delhi behind them (7.7).
Five of Moeen Ali's six wickets in IPL 2023 have come at Chepauk, striking once every 7.2 deliveries at an average of under 10 in Chennai. Moeen has been phenomenal against left-handers here, with his two wickets coming at an economy rate of six and against the right-handers his three wickets have come at an economy rate of nine. With plenty of right-handers in SRH's line-up, he could be a thorn in their flesh again. On the batting front, he has faced under 50 deliveries so far in the tournament but has struck at a strike-rate of 143, which are encouraging signs.
Aiden Markram has used his part-time off-spin a great deal this season, but might be tempted to give it a twirl at Chepauk. However, with the bat, he has gotten off to starts in three of the four matches and against Kolkata, he scored a 26-ball 50 to guide his team to victory. Markram, came into the tournament at the back of impressive performances for South Africa and also the SA20, where he finished as the third-highest run-getter in the tournament. A lot will be expected of the SRH skipper not only this game but for the entire tournament moving forward.
Grand League Punts
Devon Conway has looked at home at Chepauk, notching up 97 runs in the two matches there, striking at 145. He looked in sublime form against Bangalore, top-scoring with a 45-ball 83 to help his side to 226 at the Chinnaswamy. Conway has fared extremely against spinners this season striking at 174.42 against them, while against the pacers it drops down to 134.18, which is still pretty decent. CSK will hope that their opener keeps up the good show in this vital fixture as well.
Mayank Markande has been in phenomenal form this season having picked up six wickets at 12.83 and giving away just 6.41 an over. He could be handy especially against the right-handers, having picked up five of his six wickets against them, at a staggering economy rate of 3.9, an average of 3.4 and strike-rate of 5.2. Surely, the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane and Ambati Rayudu will be wary of him.
Top Criclytics projection
Probable XI
Chennai Super Kings: Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Ambati Rayudu, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Matheesha Pathirana
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Mayank Agarwal, Harry Brook, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Washington Sundar, Marco Jansen, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Markande, T Natarajan
