Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are set to face the Lucknow Super Giants at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, May 10.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Co. lost their first three matches but found form just before it was too late. They have won five out of their last seven matches and are sitting at No. 6 on the points table. They can move into the top four with a win if the Gujarat Titans lose to the Rajasthan Royals on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Lucknow Super Giants found some much-needed oxygen after winning their last game against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru by nine runs. This win ended their frustrating six-match losing streak. Still, Rishabh Pant’s men are languishing at No. 10 with three wins and seven defeats.
Predicted Impact Players for Chennai Super Kings (CSK):
Shivam Dube: Shivam Dube has not been at his best, neither with the bat nor in the field. He was expected to come in as the Impact Player in the last game against the Delhi Capitals but he wasn’t needed.
Prashant Veer: After Akeal Hosein made a stellar impact in the last game, it seems that Prashant Veer will have to sit on the bench for a bit longer.
Akash Madhwal: The right-arm seamer came in as the injury replacement of Ayush Mhatre. He hasn’t made his CSK debut yet.
Matthew Short: The Australian all-rounder has played two matches this season and scored 36 runs in 37 balls. He has bowled 3.1 overs but failed to pick up a wicket and conceded runs at an economy rate of 12.32.
Sarfaraz Khan: Sarfaraz Khan has scored 161 runs in seven innings this season at an average of 23 and a strike rate of 169.48. He played some fine cameos but couldn’t convert them into substantial scores.
Ashwin believes Dhoni could hamper CSK’s combination
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG):
Manimaran Siddharth: The left-arm spinner lost his place in the side in the last game as Shahbaz Ahmed replaced him. He has picked up six wickets in four matches.
Mukul Choudhary: The Super Giants have won only three matches this season. The right-handed batter almost single-handedly helped them win the away game against the Kolkata Knight Riders earlier in the season. However, he has lost his place in the side after failing to build on the epic knock.
Mayank Yadav: Mayank Yadav bowled some rockets in the last game and also mixed them up with slower deliveries. However, on an exemplary batting surface, he gave away 50 runs in four overs and went wicketless.
Abdul Samad: The Jammu and Kashmir all-rounder was given a long rope by the Super Giants, but after failing to make an impact, he was left out of the side.
Avesh Khan: The experienced seamer has been in and out of the side this season. In six matches, he picked up five wickets at an average of 45.80 and an economy rate of 11.08.
Sanjiv Goenka’s heartwarming moment after LSG-RCB Clash
Expert Opinion and Final Prediction
- Home Advantage: CSK have played five matches this season at the MA Chidambaram Stadium and won three of them.
- Recent Form: In the last five meetings between LSG and CSK, the head-to-head is tied at 2-2, with one game ending without a result.
- Balanced Side: CSK appear to have a well-balanced lineup with contributions across departments. In contrast, LSG are still searching for the right combination, despite winning the last game.
- Prediction: Considering these factors, CSK look better placed to come out on top in this contest.
