The last time MS Dhoni played a full season for Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk, he was still representing India. That little nugget might help explain why there’s near-hysteria around the streets leading to the MA Chidambaram Stadium, as Dhoni’s men ready for a first proper home game in years.
The frenzied search for tickets has been intensified by the awareness that this could very well be Dhoni’s last season in canary yellow. There are even some who think he’s still playing, nearly four years after his last international cap, because he wanted to say goodbye to the fans who took him to their collective hearts in 2008 and then never let go. It’s now no exaggeration at all to say that Dhoni is as big in Chennai as Tamil matinee idols.
But on Monday, there’s a cricket match to be won, and Lucknow Super Giants – emphatic winners over Delhi Capitals in their opener – certainly won’t be thinking of Dhoni and sentiment. They may instead be focussed on whether Mark Wood, who skittled Delhi’s top order, can be as effective on what’s expected to be a much slower surface.
Wood stole the headlines in Lucknow’s first game, but we shouldn’t forget that the batters, led by Kyle Mayers, thumped 16 sixes in a total of 193. That’s serious hitting, though they’re unlikely to find much pace on to the bat in Chennai.
Chennai themselves got a marvellous start with the bat, thanks to Ruturaj Gaikwad’s fluent striking, but there was little impetus from the middle or lower order. So much will depend on whether the English pair of Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali, left-handers both, can play themselves in and tee off. Moeen, who didn’t bowl in Ahmedabad, should be a factor with the ball as well.
Chennai’s home record is hugely impressive – 40 wins from 56 – but so many of those who helped build that record are now gone. Those that remain, like Ravindra Jadeja and Ambati Rayudu and Dhoni himself will really need to step it up if they’re to someone stop a Lucknow side that seems even stronger than the iteration that reached the 2022 playoffs.
Venue and Time
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. 7.30 PM IST.
Toss and expected conditions
Given the make-up of Chennai’s squad, it’ll be now surprise if the pitch is slow, with little by way of bounce. Down the years, teams batting first have won more than 58 per cent of IPL games played here, with spin bowlers conceding less than 7 runs an over. Even at the start of play, the temperature will be hovering around 30C, though the humidity will make it seem even warmer.
Head-to-Head
Lucknow won their only contest so far, chasing down an imposing target of 211 in the 2022 season.
Possible XIs and Impact Player Watch
Chennai’s decision to bring in Tushar Deshpande as their Impact Player was an unmitigated disaster, with this 3.2 overs costing 51 runs in what was otherwise a close game. But with Sisanda Magala and their Sri Lankan duo still away on national duty, Chennai’s options are extremely limited, especially if Dhoni again picks four foreign players. Simarjeet Singh seems to be the only viable Indian option on the bench. Lucknow had the opposite experience with their impact player. Krishnappa Gowtham smacked a six of the only ball he faced, and then bowled four very tidy overs to help choke Delhi’s chase. Even though Quinton de Kock is expected in the city on Monday, it would be a major surprise if Lucknow changed a winning combination to accommodate someone who has travelled for so many hours on the eve of a game. The one possible change is an extra spinner in place of Jaidev Unadkat, whose three overs against Delhi cost 39.
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni (C, WK), Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Rajvardhan Hangargekar.
Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (C, WK), Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Mark Wood, Amit Mishra.