FANTASY
Follow UsGujarat Titans will take on Chennai Super Kings in Match 29 of the Indian Premier League 2022 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in an evening encounter, at Pune on Sunday (April 17). Having lost their first four encounters, Chennai finally got their first win of the season in their previous match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Meanwhile, the Hardik Pandya-led side are the only franchise to win four of their first five games, and they would want to keep this winning momentum going for as long as possible.
Ground details and team combination
The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium has hosted five games so far this season and the batters here have scored runs at an average of 28.3. Meanwhile, a wicket has fallen every 19.4 deliveries. The fast bowlers have had more success here, operating at an economy of 8.5 and a strike rate of 19.1 - the best amongst all four venues. Meanwhile, spinners here have taken a wicket every 28.8 deliveries, which is the worst amongst all four stadiums. However, Rashid Khan and Maheesh Theekshana have been in pretty decent form and it would be ideal to have at least one of them in your team.
Team suggestion
The team we've picked has a good mix of world-class batters and bowlers. But remember, while you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing 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.
Captain selection
Hardik Pandya has found a fresh breath of air with the new franchise and has utilised it to the maximum. He has scored 228 runs at an average of 76 and a strike rate of 136.52 and is placed third in the run-scorers’ list of this IPL. He has shown consistency with his performances. He hasn’t failed yet in the five innings and managed to get starts in each one of them. Against Rajasthan, Pandya smacked 87* off 52 deliveries, ran out Sanju Samson with a direct hit and also dismissed James Neesham.
Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Pandya will score 17-25 runs and pick 0-1 wicket in this match.
X-factors
The other unlikely hero who has stepped up with the bat massively for CSK has been Shivam Dube. The left-hander hasn’t had the greatest of starts in IPL and had mediocre batting returns in IPL 2019 to 2021. However, this season, he averages 51.75 scoring runs at a strike rate of 176.92 and has already hit more fifties than what he has managed in his previous three seasons combined. Dube is currently the fifth-highest run-getter in the tournament and it's a huge achievement considering he bats in the middle-order.
Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Dube will score 15-23 runs in this match.
Lockie Ferguson started off the IPL in a spectacular fashion with 4/28 against DC which were his best IPL figures and the only time he took four wickets in an innings. In the last game, he registered a crucial 3/23 against RR to help his team register a win after having a bad outing against SRH. He doesn't have a great record against CSK but the tearaway quick from New Zealand would enjoy bowling on the Pune surface.
Our Criclytics Player Projector predicts Ferguson will pick 1-2 wickets.
Here are the top-10 picks as per Criclytics projected points
Probable XIs
Gujarat - Matthew Wade/Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Shubman Gill, Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya (c), David Miller, Abhinav Manohar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Shami, Yash Dayal.
Chennai - Robin Uthappa, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Dwayne Bravo, Chris Jordan/Dwaine Pretorius, Mukesh Choudhary/Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Maheesh Theekshana.
(All stats till April 16, 2022)
