IPL 2021: CSK vs MI – 3 CSK Players Who Can Be The Man Of The Match

IPL 2021 UAE leg’s first fixture will be between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians who have won the most number of IPL titles so far and they are again one of the favorites to win the title this year as well. The first phase of IPL 2021 saw these two teams taking on each other in an intense battle and the excitement is set to continue in the second phase as well.

This will be the first match after the resumption of the IPL 2021 in UAE and this will also be the return fixture between these teams. The first game between these two sides this season ended in the favor of the Mumbai Indians who pulled off a stunning win. Here are 3 CSK players who can be the man of the match in IPL 2021.

IPL 2021: CSK vs MI- 3 CSK Players Who Can Be The Man Of The Match

Faf du Plessis

The veteran South Africa batsman Faf du Plessis has been one of the consistent performers for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2021. He is the third-highest run-scorer in IPL 2021 overall so far and the 37-year-old has been key to the plans of the CSK side.  Faf du Plessis scored 320 runs in 7 games at an average of 64.00 in the first phase and Chennai Super Kings will be worried about his fitness issues.

He will certainly be one of the favorites to win the man of the match award if fit and available to play. Faf du Plessis has picked up a groin injury a few days back while playing in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
It was learned that Faf du Plessis could be fit to be ready in time for CSK’s opening match against Mumbai Indians on Sunday. Though he hasn’t played the latter CPL games, he may just be ready for Sunday’s opening fixture.

Faf du Plessis, along with CSK’s other members Imran Tahir and Dwayne Bravo who are playing in the CPL, will arrive in the UAE on Thursday. The trio doesn’t need to undergo the mandatory hard quarantine since they will have a bubble-to-bubble transfer.

He was also a star in CSK’s miserable campaign in the UAE in IPL 2020, scoring 449 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of 140.75 with 4 fifties. CSK had performed poorly in IPL 2020 as for the first time the three-time IPL winners failed to qualify for the playoffs of the event.

Ravindra Jadeja

The all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was in clinical form in the first phase of IPL 2021 with the bat especially and he played some crucial knocks. The left-hander has scored 131 runs in the first 7 games and was dismissed just once in his innings. He has played 191 matches in his IPL career so far and scored 2290 runs at an average of 26.62, including two fifties. He also has 120 wickets to his name, including three four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul.

Ravindra Jadeja was in good form in the recent Test series against England too. He has the ability to turn a match on its head quickly. He has been excellent under MS Dhoni’s captaincy and he will be expecting to produce the same. The left-handed batsman scored 131 runs in 6 innings at an average of 131. He also batted at a strike rate of 126+ and scored a half-century. He also picked 6 wickets while bowling at an economy of 6.70 and an average of 26.83.

Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu was one of the stars of the Chennai Super Kings side in their first fixture against Mumbai Indians and almost bagged the man of the match award. The right-hander scored 72 off just 27 balls with seven sixes and four fours. He will be one of the players to watch out for in the contest between these two teams.

Ambati Rayudu was once part of the Mumbai Indians unless he was bought by the CSK side in the 2018 auction. He likes to take on the Mumbai bowlers especially. Ambati Rayudu has been one of the important pillars in the CSK side in the middle order.

In 7 matches in the Indian leg of IPL 2021, Ambati Rayudu scored 136 runs averaging 34 at an excellent strike rate of 200. Once a regular in the Indian ODI team, Ambati Rayudu would come in handy for the CSK in the middle-order, if needed.

The likes of Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, and Shardul Thakur are some other contenders for MoM.