IPL 2018, Match 27, Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians: Match Prediction

As we approach the 27^th match of Vivo IPL 11, both teams will surely remember the very first encounter of the tournament. Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians meet in the 2^nd leg of the tournament today at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Had Chennai not won the first match against the Mumbai Indians the whole scenario of the tournament would have been different. Mumbai wouldn’t have lied down in the bottom of the points table with just a win from 6 matches.

Mumbai was well on course for a comfortable victory until Dwayne Bravo entered the scene and totally turned the game on its head. From a hopeless situation, Bravo struck an astonishing 68 of just 30 deliveries which included 3 fours and 10 sixes. It was some sensational piece of batting by Bravo. That was the best I saw Bravo bat in the recent past. Without that victory, Chennai wouldn’t have been standing quite pretty at the points table with 5 victories from 6.

From there on, it has gone from good to best for Chennai while for Mumbai it has been bad to worse. They have failed to find the perfect combination. The most successful team in the IPL has also failed to seize the opportunities at crucial junctures in the game. However, the bowlers have performed well in patches. The inconsistency of their star bowler Jasprit Bumrah has really pushed them to the backfoot.

He is an amazing bowler especially in the shortest format so his dip in form is not what Mumbai want at this moment. If they do want to change their fortunes in the tournament, the form of Jasprit Bumrah and Mustafizur Rahman will be very important. On the other hand, the top order and the middle order has to come well together. There have been times when the top order has got them off to solid starts. However, the middle and the lower order middle-order led to their downfall.

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Meanwhile when the middle order has performed the top order has failed. On another instance when the batsmen have risen to the occasions, their bowler has proved to be their downfall. However, a victory against the Chennai Super Kings will surely bolster them to make a turnaround. Chennai on the other hand ha looked quite brilliant in the tournament so far.

Ambati Rayudu quite undoubtedly has been the star player for CSK. He is currently wearing the orange cap with 283 runs from 6 games. The form of Mahendra Singh Dhoni has also allowed CSK to be in the happy space. The skipper smashed a blazing knock of 70 of just 34 deliveries which included a four and 7 sixes. It was simply carnage on display by Dhoni which ensured CSK chased down the mammoth target of 205 set by the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

It has been a team effort from CSK so far. When one batsman has failed, the other batsman has taken up the responsibility. All the players have more or less contribution to the team’s winning momentum. Despite most of the players in their 30’s, CSK has a tremendous fielding unit and is quite athletic and agile on the field.

Team Combinations

Chennai Super Kings

Some of the reserve players like David Willey, Murali Vijay, Faf du Plessis and Mark Wood was seen sweating it out in the nets as the big guns and the more regular ones opted for a break. In all likelihood, CSK is expected to retain the same playing XI which won against Bangalore.

Predicted XI: Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Sam Billings, MS Dhoni (C & WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir

Mumbai Indians

Mumbai have a lot of options but are unable to click at this particular moment. They have tried several things but have failed to come up with an idea. Most of the players in their playing XI have performed well. However, the team hasn’t been able to gel as a unit together. Mustafizur Rahman has leaked some runs on occasions. He might be replaced by a faster Adam Milne. JP Duminy might also come in place of a certain Kieron Pollard who has been woefully out of form in the tournament so far.

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Predicted XI: Evin Lewis, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (WK), Rohit Sharma (C), Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard/JP Duminy, Mitchell McClenaghan, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah, Mustafizur Rahman/Adam Milne.

Match Predictions

Given the current form, Chennai is the overwhelming favourites to win today’s clash. However, the 1^st match of the tournament gives us an indication that Mumbai is no pushover and will give CSK a run for their money today. Chennai is undoubtedly in a happy space. However, Mumbai is in a desperate need of a victory. Especially given their desperation and the sort of team Mumbai is given their history of comebacks, I am backing Mumbai to come back to winning ways.