In the upcoming clash between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans on March 26th at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, anticipation is high as both teams enter the contest with momentum from their initial victories in IPL 2024. Chennai Super Kings secured a convincing 6-wicket win against RCB in their opener, while Gujarat Titans edged past Mumbai Indians by 6 runs in a thrilling encounter.
In their first match, CSK’s Mustafizur Rahman showcased his bowling prowess, claiming 4 crucial wickets. With the bat, Rachin Ravindra and Shivam Dube contributed valuable runs with scores of 37 and 34 respectively. On the other hand, Gujarat Titans witnessed a standout performance from Sai Sudharsan, who top-scored with 45 runs, while Azmatullah Omarzai, Umesh Yadav, Spencer Johnson, and Mohit Sharma all chipped in with 2 wickets each.
As it stands, CSK occupies the second spot on the points table, with Gujarat Titans closely behind in fourth place. The clash promises excitement as both teams feature new captains, each marking their debut with a victorious start. Ruturaj Gaikwad assumed leadership from the legendary MS Dhoni at CSK and led his team to a triumphant start against RCB.
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Similarly, Shubman Gill took over the reins at Gujarat Titans following Hardik Pandya’s departure to Mumbai Indians. Gill’s leadership journey began against MI, where the Titans suffered a loss against the 2022 champions. Despite the initial setback, both captains will be eager to maintain their winning momentum in this highly anticipated encounter.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Matheesha Pathirana’s inclusion in the CSK squad, confirmed by coach Fleming, adds depth to their options. However, Mustafizur Rahman’s stellar performance in the season opener against RCB makes benching him a tough decision for CSK. Shivam Dube’s past record against GT, with only 71 runs in 5 innings at a strike rate of 116.39, may raise doubts.
Yet, he could play a crucial role in the middle overs, especially against GT’s spinners, Rashid Khan and R Sai Kishore. Rashid’s googlies could pose a challenge, although he hasn’t dismissed Dube in their IPL encounters so far. CSK’s newcomer Sameer Rizvi faces a significant test against the spin duo of GT, particularly with his reputation as a spin hitter.
Probable XI: Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Sameer Rizvi, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Mustafizur Rahman [Impact Sub: Shivam Dube for Mustafizur Rahman]
Gujarat Titans (GT)
Matthew Wade’s involvement seems unlikely due to his recent participation in the Sheffield Shield final. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s impressive track record against GT, with four 50-plus scores in five innings at a strike rate of 146.85, highlights his importance. However, his struggle against left-arm pacers in the PowerPlay could prompt GT to introduce Spencer Johnson early.
GT will be wary of allowing Ruturaj to settle, given his ability to dominate Rashid Khan, having scored 95 runs off 60 balls against the spinner at a strike rate of 158.33. Managing Ruturaj’s threat early on will be crucial for GT’s bowling strategy.
Probable XI: Shubman Gill (c), Wriddhiman Saha, Sai Sudharsan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Umesh Yadav, Spencer Johnson [Impact Sub: Mohit Sharma for Sai Sudharsan
Fantasy XI Suggestion 1:
MS Dhoni, Wriddhiman Saha, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Daryl Mitchell, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Rachin Ravindra, Ravindra Jadeja, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mustafizur Rahman (vc), R Sai Kishore
Fantasy XI Suggestion 2:
Wriddhiman Saha, Daryl Mitchell, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Rachin Ravindra, Ravindra Jadeja (c), Azmatullaz Omarzai, Deepak Chahar, Muztafizur Rahman, Rashid Khan (vc), Mohit Sharma
