Overview
This is, without doubt, the Indian Premier League’s marquee rivalry, the clash of the two franchises that have won nine titles between them. It pits the most successful captain in the league’s history, Rohit Sharma, against the leader who has the most wins – MS Dhoni. If you take you their 0-3 record against Gujarat Titans (too short a period to be called a rivalry), Mumbai are the only team against whom Dhoni and Chennai have a losing record. And it was that way even before Mumbai won the first of their titles in 2013.
It was Chennai they beat in that final, and they have won three of the four summit clashes between the two sides. The teams have also journeyed in opposite directions in the past week. Two straight wins have seen Mumbai right back in play-off contention, while Chennai’s two losses and a no-result have seen them drop to third in the table.
Both batting line-ups are in prolific form. If Chennai can boast of Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane and Shivam Dube, Mumbai are able to call on Suryakumar Yadav, Cameron Green, Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan. That’s without bringing in Dhoni’s incredible six-hitting cameos at the death, or Rohit’s abiity to dismantle any attack on his day.
Where both teams have struggled is with the pace bowling. The spinners on both sides have done a fine job, and Mateesha Pathirana’s slingy pace has flummoxed many of Chennai’s opponents. But the other new-ball options have been hideously expensive, and both teams have routinely conceded huge totals.
Mumbai have the option of bringing in Chris Jordan, though he too has often struggled in Indian conditions. What they really need is for Jofra Archer to rediscover his best form. As for Chennai, Dhoni will just continue to mix and match the resources as best he can.
Also Read: From Assisting a Panipuri Seller to Cracking a Century in IPL, The Inspirational Journey of Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Venue and time
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. 3:30 PM.
Head-to-Head
Mumbai lead the rivalry 20-15, though it was Chennai that prevailed at the Wankhede Stadium earlier in the season.
Expected conditions and toss
The temperature will be around 32C at the start of play, with the humidity also very high. Give that it’s a day game, the team winning the toss is likely to bat first and take advantage of a pitch that gets slower as the match goes on.
Likely playing XI and impact player
Neither team is likely to change much, though Chennai could take another look at their bowling attack. Ambati Rayudu has been Chennai’s chosen Impact player, whereas Mumbai recently played without using one. They do have the option of bringing Chris Jordan into the XI after playing only three foreign players the last time.
Chennai Super Kings: Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (C, WK), Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande, Akash Singh.
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan (WK), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Jofra Archer, Piyush Chawla, Chris Jordan, Kumar Kartikeya, Arshad Khan.