IPL 2023: 3 Key Match-Ups to Watch-Out in MI VS CSK Match No.12

It is time for the El Clasico of the Indian Premier League as arch-rivals Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) get set to lock horns in match no. 12 on Saturday, April 8 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Two of the most successful and popular IPL teams, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have faced each other as many as 36 times, out of which Mumbai has won 21 while Chennai has won on 15 occasions. This will be the 1000th match of the Indian Premier League. Both these teams will again meet in the sixteenth edition of the Indian Premier League. The atmosphere at the Wankhede Stadium will be electrifying. 

CSK-MI in High Voltage Clash

Mumbai Indians, the home team, will be looking for their first win of the season after being humbled by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Bangalore. Surely there would be some learnings from their first game of the season. The top order must deliver the goods to their home ground which is traditionally a high-scoring venue. Playing his first game in the Blue and Gold, Jofra Archer went wicketless. In absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Archer will have to shoulder the responsibility of leading the inexperienced bowling attack of MI. Riley Meredith is expected to be available for selection after being named as Jhye Richardson’s replacement. For MI, the encounter holds more importance as they have had a slow start to this season.

CSK lost their first game to Gujarat Titans (GT) in the tournament opener but made a roaring comeback in their den against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). In the starting two games, CSK batters have managed to put up big scores on the board. Batting looks strong on paper with skipper MS Dhoni coming at number 8. While their strength lies in their batting, the bowling department is looking weak. A depleted CSK bowling department would happily welcome their newest member Sisanda Magala, who has joined the squad in Mumbai. It will be interesting to see whether Dhoni plays Magala straight into the playing XI or if he will stick to the same XI. 

IPL 2023: Top Player Battles to Keep an Eye On in MI VS CSK Game:

3) Suryakumar Yadav vs Ravindra Jadeja

On a flat wicket in Bangalore, Suryakumar Yadav failed to light up the stage as he labored to a 16-ball 15 against RCB in an eight-wicket defeat. It’s quite evident that he is struggling for runs. There’s no better place to get back among runs than the home ground. Playing at his home, Suryakumar would be keen to score big in a high-profile match against CSK. Like always batting in the middle-order, Suryakumar’s job will be to provide middle-over acceleration to his team.

For CSK, spinners operate in the middle overs, and leading the spin attack will be Ravindra Jadeja. In nine meetings in the lucrative t20 league T20 league, Jadeja has dismissed Suryakumar twice with the 32-year-old scoring 40 runs against Jadeja with a paltry strike rate of only 76.92. Jadeja is a clever operator and he will be up against a man who likes attacking the spinners. This will be one battle that could decide the fate of the game.

2) Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Jofra Archer

CSK’s best batter Ruturaj Gaikwad is up against MI’s best bowler Jofra Archer. It couldn’t get any better than this. Gaikwad has been a revelation for the Yellow Army since his first season. The CSK opener has smashed half-centuries in the first two games of the season. He would be high on confidence and will be looking to make the most of the conditions in Wankhede.  

Ruturaj is extremely important to CSK’s chances of winning this game. But it won’t be easy for him because he’ll be up against Archer, the MI pace attack’s spearhead. Archer is the kind of bowler who can operate in all phases of a T20 game. The Barbados-born cricketer has made a name for himself as one of the most lethal and fearsome bowlers in the world. Bowling with the new ball, Archer will look to get Ruturaj for the first time. Both player haven’t faced the other to date. 

1) Rohit Sharma vs Deepak Chahar

The last few seasons have been quiet for Rohit Sharma. One of all time leading run-scorers, Rohit has amassed 770 runs against CSK in IPL. He has hit seven fifties against the four-time IPL winners in his illustrious career. The MI skipper missed out on the last game against RCB. On his home track, while opening the innings, Rohit would like to score big and register the first win of the season for his team. Knowing the conditions well, Rohit is expected to come hard at CSK bowlers. Stopping Rohit would be a challenge for Dhoni and Co. The onus will be on Deepak Chahar to stop Rohit because if Rohit plays out the first six overs then it will be very tough for anyone to stop him.

Chahar owns 43 scalps in the powerplay overs at an average of 31.88 and an economy rate of 7.82. Conditions in Mumbai will suit his style of bowling. Chahar has dismissed Rohit twice in eight IPL meetings. Rohit has scored 51 runs with a strike rate of 121.42. Chahar can swing the ball both ways and will pose a threat to the Mumbai opener. It would be a treat to watch how Rohit tackles Chahar in the powerplay.