Aakash Chopra has chosen the game between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) openers and the Gujarat Titans (GT) new-ball bowlers as the battle to watch out for in the IPL 2023 Qualifier 1 as well. However, CSK will lock horns at Chepauk in Chennai against GT on Tuesday, May 23. CSK lost to GT by five wickets in the tournament opener in Ahmedabad and they will want to turn the table as well. While previewing the game in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra chose Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway vs Mohammad Shami and Co. as a contest to watch out for, stating:

“Within that big battle, you always have some small-small battles. The new-ball bowlers of Gujarat vs Chennai’s best in-form batters, that’s the battle that I am looking forward to watch. The last time when these two teams met, Mohammad Shami did an amazing job. He hit Devon Conway’s stumps right at the start. Now when they meet here, Mohammad Shami will be on one side, and alongside him will be either Yash Dayal or someone else. Hardik Pandya might bowl. How they bowl to Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway is likely to set the tone of the match.”

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Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya hasn’t bowled for the Gujarat Titans in their last three matches. The defending champions might go with Yash Dayal as Mohammed Shami’s new-ball partner unless the GT skipper was saving himself for the playoff games as well. And Aakash Chopra feels it is virtually impossible to pick a favourite for Tuesday’s game, saying:

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“In whose favor is the scale tilted in this game? Impossible. We used to say Chennai with our eyes closed when the match used to be in Chennai earlier because no one could beat them. This year KKR, Rajasthan and Punjab defeated them. So it’s not the same fortress anymore, things have changed somewhat. This pitch is no longer that slow, runs are now available. I am not making any prediction here. Whoever plays well will win.”