- Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be locking horns with Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 53rd game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, on the 7th of October. CSK has already qualified for the playoffs and they will be eyeing to increase their chances of finishing at first place with a win. On the other hand, PBKS will need nothing less than a miracle to make it to the playoffs this season.
In this season so far, CSK has win 9 of their 13 matches so far, while PBKS have managed to win just 5 of their 13 games, and are placed sixth on the points table. CSK suffered a 3-wicket loss against Delhi Capitals (DC) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Batting first, CSK managed to put up just 136 runs on the board. An unbeaten half-century from Ambati Rayudu ensured they cross the 130-mark and the Capitals chased it down in the very last over.
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On the other hand, PBKS also lost their last game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) despite a 91-run opening stand between KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal. CSK and PBKS have faced each other 25 times in IPL history so far, where CSK won 16 games while PBKS managed just 9 wins. Chennai Super Kings haven’t faced any defeat against Punjab Kings since 2019. Their last head-to-head encounter ended in a CSK-win by 6 wickets at Wankhede Stadium earlier this season.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
MS Dhoni can’t rotate between his fast-bowling all-rounders anymore as Sam Curran has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament. Suresh Raina missed the last fixture with a ‘back issue’ and will be expected to miss another game. Faf du Plessis has always done well against Punjab’s bowling spearhead Mohammed Shami. Additionally, Du Plessis averages 59.78 and strikes at 146.20 against Punjab.
Probable XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Robin Uthappa/Suresh Raina, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, MS Dhoni, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Josh Hazlewood
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Even if Raina doesn’t pass fit, CSK will have a top-order left-hand option in Moeen Ali and a floater in Ravindra Jadeja, who can be pushed up the order to mess with the leg-spin from Ravi Bishnoi and left-arm spin from Harpreet. The most glaringly obvious aspect of Punjab’s game in the current cycle has been their dependence on Rahul.
Probable XI: KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Deepak Hooda, Shahrukh Khan, Moises Henriques, Harpreet Brar, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh
Fantasy XI Suggestion 1:
KL Rahul (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mayank Agarwal, Faf du Plessis (VC), Ambati Rayudu, Shahrukh Khan, Moises Henriques, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Chahar
Fantasy XI Suggestion 2:
KL Rahul, Nicholas Pooran, Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Faf du Plessis, Aiden Markram, Moises Henriques, Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Moeen Ali, Shardul Thakur, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi
