Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
The team that finds incredible ways to win vs. the team that finds incredible ways to lose. It is remarkable to think these teams, in a parallel universe, could be sitting at opposite ends of the table. However, it’s also easy to see why this is not the case.
Chennai Super Kings have been magnificent in the crunch moments, and deserve to be sitting at the top end of the IPL 2018 table. Time and time again, they have refused to give up, and come up with the goods, evident yet again in their last game against RCB, chasing 205 after being 70/4. In a rematch of IPL 2018’s amazing first game, can they cause further heartbreak for MI?
Not even the birthday of the great Sachin Tendulkar could inspire Mumbai Indians to turn their season around against SRH at the Wankhede. You could use many harsh, unkind adjectives to describe their 87 all out debacle, but they have to put it behind them and win this game, as they are moving further away from the pack. With DD’s win last night, MI are now outright last on the table, and now have to find a way to replicate their successful 2015 campaign, where they also lost five of their first six games.
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| Tough start to the season for defending champs MI… |
Key to a Chennai Super Kings win
Get this game to go right down the wire. They’ll succeed, MI will crumble. Easy.
In all seriousness, CSK’s death bowling leaves a little to be desired, highlighted by an economy rate of 11.27 between overs 15 and 20 so far in IPL 2018. MI’s passage back into the tournament could very well depend on how their batting fares, so it’s important CSK restrict MI as much as possible. Also, if CSK can start well with the ball, getting into MI’s dangerous top order as quickly as possible, it will hold them in good stead.
I’m certainly confident about CSK’s batting, headlined by Ambati Rayudu and MS Dhoni in recent times, but if they can put in a good bowling display, MI could be searching longer for their second
win.
Key to a Mumbai Indians win
Their bowling clicked beautifully against SRH, with each member of the bowling attack holding their own. A target of 119 should have been a comfortable chase, but as has been the case in IPL 2018, MI have disappointed when it has mattered.
If their batting doesn’t fire again in this game, I can’t see them beating a strong CSK batting line up. The role of Kieron Pollard in the team continues to be up in the air, and it is no coincidence that in the one game skipper Rohit Sharma has fired so far, MI won it.
Big responsibility is on those two to deliver better results, and so too the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Evin Lewis and Ishan Kishan to deliver a strong start for MI, to give their inconsistent middle order the best possible chance to fire.
Predicted teams
CSK look good at the moment, and are on track to continue their momentum. Imran Tahir and Dwayne Bravo would have been happy with their bowling performances against RCB, where all the other bowlers went for at least 10 an over. Improvement is required in that facet of the game.
Chennai Super Kings XI: 1. Shane Watson, 2. Ambati Rayudu, 3. Suresh Raina, 4. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 5. Sam Billings, 6. Ravindra Jadeja, 7. Dwayne Bravo, 8. Harbhajan Singh, 9. Deepak Chahar, 10. Shardul Thakur, 11. Imran Tahir
As mentioned in other MI previews, I genuinely feel MI aren’t too far away from clicking. Their team suggests they should – their experienced players need to certainly stand up.
Mumbai Indians XI: 1. Suryakumar Yadav, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Ishan Kishan (wk), 4. Rohit Sharma (c), 5. Krunal Pandya, 6. Kieron Pollard, 7. Hardik Pandya, 8. Mitchell McClenaghan, 9. Mayank Markande, 10. Jasprit Bumrah, 11. Mustafizur Rahman
Stats and Facts:
- Head-to-Head: Matches: 23, CSK 11, MI 12. In the previous meeting this season, CSK pulled off a miracle win thanks to Dwayne Bravo’s amazing 68 off 30 balls.
- Onus is on MI’s top order to perform in this game. If you remove their 102-run opening stand v DD, MI’s opening partnerships have contributed just 31 runs in the remaining five games (7, 11, 0, 1 and 12).
- Write MS Dhoni off at your own peril. In what will be his 150th IPL match as captain, MS Dhoni has scored 209 runs in IPL 2018 at an average of 69.67 and SR of 165.87.
- Ambati Rayudu currently leads the IPL 2018 run scoring charts with 283.
- Mumbai Indians have mirrored the start to their winning 2015 campaign (1 win, 5 losses).
Prediction
Looking at the standings and form of the two teams, it seems a simple game to predict, but it doesn’t work that way. I have a feeling this will be the game MI finally click, and they will get a win vs. a strong CSK side. Controversial, but I think their top order will fire, and get their second win of the season.
