IPL 2021, UAE leg is all set to get underway from September 19 and it would be a blockbuster to get things rolling in UAE as defending champions Mumbai Indians lock horns with familiar foes in Chennai Super Kings in Dubai. While expectations would be high from both sides, the winner would be the one side who holds their nerves best on the given day as both teams are well-matched on paper.
The two teams have met on 32 occasions, with Mumbai being the winners 19 times. CSK holds the 2nd spot in the points table with 10 points. The MS Dhoni-led side has won 5 matches and lost 2 out of 7 matches. On the other hand, Mumbai Indians are in the 4th spot in the points table with 8 points. Out of 7 games, MI has won 4 matches and lost 3. In the earlier encounter in India in IPL 2021, MI won the match by 4 wickets while chasing a mammoth target of 219 runs.
For CSK, they have concerns to address ahead of their opener against MI as a couple of their stars – Faf du Plessis and Sam Curran – may miss out. While the SA cricketer picked up an injury during a CPL match and that puts his participation in doubt, the English all-rounder has arrived in Dubai only on Wednesday morning and has to serve a mandatory 6-day quarantine – which makes him unavailable.
IPL 2021:- Chennai Super Kings Predicted XI:-
Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa might get a chance to play for Chennai Super Kings in the match against Mumbai Indians as Faf du Plessis is currently injured. Faf du Plessis recently faced a groin injury during a CPL 2021 and reports suggest that he might need one week to recover.
As a result, the team might give Robin Uthappa a chance in the opening slot against Mumbai Indians. The unfailingly consistent and proven match-winner, Robin Uthappa, who has scored 4607 IPL runs, was traded to Chennai Super Kings by the Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2021 Player Auction.
Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ruturaj Gaikwad will be the other opener CSK might choose in the opening game of IPL 2021. Ruturaj Gaikwad executed a great batting show in the first leg, scoring 196 runs in 7 games at an average of 28. He also smacked 2 half-centuries, while batting at a strike rate of 128+.
Moeen Ali
Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina is another player who might make it into the playing XI during CSK’s opening game against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2021. In 7 matches so far, the left-handed batsman scored 123 runs in 6 innings at an average of 24.60. Suresh Raina has also hit a half-century in one game. He has played exactly 200 IPL games and has scored 5491 runs in IPL and is the third-highest run-getter in IPL history.
Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja is one player who will definitely make it into the playing XI for CSK in the opening encounter against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2021. 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.
MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni will lead the team in the match against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2021 opener. In the first leg, the wicketkeeper-batsman could not come up with a big knock in any game. In 4 innings, he scored 37 runs averaging a below-par 12.33. MS Dhoni is the best option for a wicketkeeper for CSK.
While MS Dhoni has hung up his boots on a 16-year illustrious career for Team India, he will be seen donning the CSK colours once again. MS Dhoni would want to end IPL 2021 on a winning note as this season may be the last one for the keeper. CSK failed to qualify for the first time in IPL history in 2020 but the MS Dhoni-led team will want to make amends.
Imran Tahir
Imran Tahir is another player who might make it to CSK’s playing XI in the opening game. Since the IPL 2021 2nd phase will take place in UAE, spinners will be a lot more effective. As a result, CSK might induct 42-year-old veteran Imran Tahir into the team for the game against Mumbai Indians.
The 2019 purple cup winner, who picked 26 scalps in 17 games in 2019, didn’t get enough opportunities in IPL 2020 and IPL 2021. He played only 4 games in the last 2 seasons picking up 3 scalps.
Mitchell Santner
For another spinner in the team, Mitchell Santner can be part of CSK in the IPL 2021 opener against Mumbai Indians. The Kiwi player did not play any match during the first leg. In 6 games in IPL so far, the bowling all-rounder Santner has picked 6 wickets and scored 32 runs. His matches came in 2019 and 2020 but he didn’t get enough opportunities to prove himself.
Deepak Chahar
Deepak Chahar is the first pacer that CSK will pick in the IPL 2021 opener against Mumbai Indians. The right-arm pacer showed magnificent form in the first leg, picking 2 four-wicket hauls. With 8 wickets in 7 games, he averaged 24.12 and an economy of 8.04.
Lungi Ngidi
Sam Curran and Dwayne Bravo might miss the first game due to quarantine protocols. Hence, Lungi Ngidi might play as a pacer in the opening game against Mumbai Indians. During the first leg, the South African pacer played 3 matches. He picked 5 wickets at an average of 25, with a three-wicket haul in one match.
Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur is another pacer that CSK might go for. The right-arm pacer played all 7 matches during the first leg. He scalped 5 wickets. He was a bit costly with his economy rate of 10.33 and his average of 53.4 wasn’t that good.
However, he is a crucial bowler for CSK with his ability to pick wickets when the team needs them. Moreover, he is also a great tailender batsman as proved in the Test tours to England and Australia in international cricket. He has picked up 51 scalps in 52 IPL games so far.
Other options:-
Ambati Rayudu
_1526223370394.jpg "Ipl 2018: Ambati Rayudu Brings Up Maiden Ton As Csk Snap Srhs Winning Streak")
In 7 matches in the Indian leg of IPL 2021, Ambati Rayudu scored 136 runs averaging 34 at an excellent strike rate of 200 and might play in the middle order. Once a regular in the Indian ODI team, Ambati Rayudu would come in handy for the CSK in the middle-order, if needed.
Josh Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood played 3 games in IPL 2020. Josh Hazelwood had cited personal reasons for pulling out of IPL 2021. In his absence, CSK roped in left-arm pacer Jason Behrendorff from Australia. However, he did not play a single game for the 3-time champions in IPL 2021.
But Josh Hazlewood announced his availability for the UAE leg of IPL 2021. He has picked 1 scalp in his brief IPL career playing 3 games for CSK. Josh Hazlewood, who played only 3 matches for CSK last season, will be available to play for the 3-time champions in the remainder of the season, starting September 19 in the UAE.
CSK Playing XI vs MI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu/ Mitchell Santner, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi, J Hazlewood/Imran Tahir