The second leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 is scheduled to be commencing on September 19 with Mumbai Indians (MI) locking horns with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Both finished in the top half of the points table at the end of the first leg of the tournament. CSK has been in a phenomenal form as compared to their horrendous performance in the 2020 edition.
The inclusion of Moeen Ali and the emergence of Ruturaj Gaikwad have been the biggest positives for the CSK as they have won 5 matches out of seven and therefore finished at the second position on the points table. The Men in Yellow will be eyeing to continue the good performance and reach the playoffs.
ALSO READ: Match 30 (MI vs CSK) – Probable XI And Fantasy XI Predictions
Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, blew hot and cold earlier this year in IPL 2021. The likes of Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, and Ishan Kishan failed to prove their worth. Both MI and CSK played their last game against each other. A high-scoring encounter eventually resulted in favor of Mumbai Indians, thanks to a brilliant knock from Kieron Pollard. The two teams will once again square up against each other for the second time in IPL 2021 edition.
Let us have a look at 3 players battles for the MI vs CSK game:
#1 MS Dhoni vs Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah has time and again shown that he is a fearsome pacer both in the powerplay and at the death, owing to his ability to bowling yorkers and picking up wickets to derail the opposition. He will likely come up against CSK skipper MS Dhoni, whose reflexes have waned, but he did show that he still boasts of that power during practice, and will aim to do so in the game. The Mumbai Indians pacer has dismissed him thrice previously, while the CSK captain has scored 56 runs at a run-a-ball in 13 innings.
#2 Suresh Raina vs Rahul Chahar
Suresh Raina returned to CSK in teh earlier part, but barring his half-century against the Delhi Capitals, the southpaw failed to do much with the bat. Now, the left-hander has the opportunity to make it count again and Mumbai Indians remain one of his favorite opposition. he will likely go up against their lead spinner in Rahul Chahar, who will be desperate to prove his worth as he has been preferred over Yuzvendra Chahal in the T20 World Cup squad.
ALSO READ: Mumbai Indians Replaces Mohsin Khan With Roosh Kalaria
The duo has gone up thrice against each other, with Chahar striking once, while Raina has amassed 12 runs at a strike rate of 100. Rahul’s numbers against left-handers are a far cry from what he manages against the right-handed batsmen, and Raina will be keen to pounce and take advantage.
#3 Rohit Sharma vs Shardul Thakur
The two Mumbai boys will be facing each other and they both are in form after their performances in England and will be looking to replicate those heroics in the IPL, where they haven’t found their best of form over the last few seasons. Rohit Sharma relatively has had success against Shardul Thakur in their seven IPL meetings. Rohit Sharma has amassed 45 runs off just 32 deliveries, scoring at a strike rate of 140.62. Thakur has scalped him only once, while has conceded five boundaries and a couple of sixes. The Mumbai Indians skipper will be aiming to get the number of Thakur once again.
