Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be hosting Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the sixth match of the ongoing IPL 2023 in Chepauk. The four-time IPL winners lost their first game of the season against the defending champions Gujarat Titans and now they will be coming back to play in front of their home crowd for the first time since 2019.
These two teams locked horns with each other at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. The high-scoring game was eventually won by KL Rahul’s LSG. This year, things will start afresh and both sides will be eyeing the converted IPL trophy. Despite losing their first game of the ongoing season, CSK still would start favorites against the LSG because of their impeccable record at home.
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Chepauk has been CSK’s fortress and the makeup of their squad is based on the conditions at this venue. Meanwhile, LSG will be full of confidence after registering a comprehensive win over Delhi Capitals (DC). They’ve got good depth in their XI with most players available for the game, unlike Chennai. With quality players on both sides, let’s have a look at three key player matchups to watch out for in the CSK vs LSG match.
#3 Ravindra Jadeja vs Marcus Stoinis
Chepauk has always been a happy hunting ground for Ravindra Jadeja. With the pitch assisting the spinners, Jadeja will have a task in hand against Marcus Stoinis, who is arguably the most powerful striker of the ball. CSK will be eyeing to contain the big-hitting all-rounder and for that skipper, MS Dhoni will turn to his most trusted spinner. It has been found in the recent past that Stoinis has struggled a bit against left-arm spin.
Stoinis hasn’t been as dominant against the left-arm spinners as he is against the fast bowlers. The matchup between Ravindra Jadeja the bowler and Marcus Stoinis the batter is more of the former. But we expect Jadeja to win this battle, if these two come face to face.
#2 KL Rahul vs Deepak Chahar
In the opening match, both players failed to contribute much to their respective teams. KL Rahul will have the responsibility to see out Chahar’s spell, particularly with the new ball. CSK’s pace bowling spearhead, Chahar can swing the new ball a long way and can take wickets at will if there’s any help available for him in Chepauk. As a batter who generally enjoys the pace on the ball, Rahul might struggle to get his timing right in the conditions in Chennai.
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Rahul enjoys a great record against Chahar. The right-arm fast bowler hasn’t dismissed the LSG opener to date in the IPL. Rahul’s strike rate of 160 suggests how dominating the LSG skipper has been against CSK’s top pacer. It will be interesting to see if Chahar manages to pick his wicket or if Rahul will once again get the better of the opposition pace ace.
#1 Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Mark Wood
The best batter for CSK in their openers game will be facing the challenge from the best bowler for LSG in the opening game. Ruturaj made everyone stand up in the season opener in Ahmedabad. He played a brilliant knock of 92. Mark Wood ran through Delhi Capitals to record his best career figures in T20 cricket as he picked a five-fer. Wood bowled at rapid pace and dismantled the DC batters with his fiery pace.
Both are at the peak of their powers. In the past, Ruturaj has shown that he has got the game against express pace by playing well against the likes of Lockie Ferguson and Umran Malik. But against Mark Wood, it will be a very different challenge. It should be a cracker of a contest between these two players in the upcoming IPL edition.
