The 49th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 will be played between Chennai Super Kings (CKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. CSK is currently placed at the 3rd position on the points table of this season of IPL whereas MI is currently placed at the 6th place on the points table. CSK played 10 games in IPL 2023 where they won five matches while Mumbai Indians played nine games in this season where they managed just five victories.
The second edition of this season’s El Clasico between CSK and MI has a lot of weight in the IPL playoff race. The reverse fixture between the two sides saw the duo of Tushar Deshpande and Ajinkya Rahane decimate the Mumbai Indians in their own backyard. However, both teams look a lot more balanced ahead of this match, with Mumbai Indians winning their last couple of games on the trot.
ALSO READ: Match 49 (CSK vs MI) – Playing XI And Fantasy XI Predictions
These two teams have played have played 37 games against each other in the history of IPL so far where both Chennai Super Kings have won 16 matches game while the remaining games have been won by MI. The last time they played against each other in this season, CSK registered a comfortable win by 7 wickets over MI.
Here are the 3 crucial player matchups:
#1 Rohit Sharma vs Tushar Deshpande
Rohit Sharma has been in sensational form for MI this season. He likes to score quickly in the Powerplay and to restrict that, MS Dhoni may unleash Tushar Deshpande. Tushar dismissed him in the reverse fixture and would like to replicate that. He has dismissed him twice in three T20 outings. But Rohit played a decent knock of 21 runs at a strike rate of 161.54 against him.
#2 Tilak Varma vs Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja has taken as many as 14 wickets this season and improved his bowling a lot. But he will be tested against Tilak Varma, who has a positive matchup against him. Tilak Varma has amassed 33 runs in 28 deliveries against him (SR: 119) across a couple of IPL meetings. Jadeja has dismissed him only once. The middle-order batter is striking at 110 against the Southpaw spinners in the IPL.
#3 Devon Conway vs Piyush Chawla
Devon Conway is in sublime form for CSK in IPL 2023. Considering the pitch, MI may unleash Piyush Chawla in the powerplay overs. Conway has never faced Chawla in the IPL. However, he owns a strike rate of 120 against right-arm spinners in IPL. Meanwhile, Chawla has taken 15 wickets in IPL innings in the ongoing season.
