Saturday 7.30 PM, April 10, 2021

A new-look Chennai Super Kings (CSK) takes the field for the first time at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium in the second match of the IPL-14 which got off with a thrilling match wherein RCB got the better of defending champions MI by hitting the winning run off the very last ball.

Overall picture: Where does CSK stand?

Billed as ‘Daddies’ Army’ for the many number of 30+ players in its ranks, CSK had an unforgettable 2020 wherein it failed to make the play-offs for the first time in more than a decade. In the last few games, young and frail-looking Ruturaj Gaikwad showed what young blood could do to the team’s morale by playing some memorable innings.

CSK would surely miss the services of big-hitting Shane Watson who hasn’t been picked this time. Former India player Robin Uthappa , who has gone on record stating that he considered it as a ‘privilege’ to play under Dhoni’s captaincy, is to open the innings along with Gaikwad. CSK is surely bolstered by the return to the team of Suresh Raina, a former India player who has won many matches single-handedly.

Rayudu, du Plessis, Raina and Dhoni make for a solid middle-order for CSK. Ravindara Jadega, who missed India’s memorable Test, ODI & T20 series against England recently, has recovered from his injury to play for his franchise CSK with Moin Ali keeping him company as the second spinner in the squad. Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar and Sam Curran form a potent bowling combination and CSK would certainly like to make a winning start by putting it across the DC which would sorely miss the services of its (injured and recuperating) captain Shreays Iyer.

DC: The power of young

Young gun Rishabh Pant, who has made a huge statement with his batting and wicket-keeping skills in the past six months, gets promoted as DC’s captain for this season. DC has a formidable batting line up including Prithvi, Shikhar, Rahane, Stoinis, Hetmyer and Pant. Sam Billings and Chris Woakes give the team solidity in the lower-half. Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma form part of the solid bowling line-up the DC possesses.

Form book might easily point out CSK as probably an 'easy winner' but DC would love to spoil CSK’s party by reigning in a few surprises. It would be a huge test for debuting captain Pant to outwit/outthink Dhoni, considered widely by critics as one of the ‘shrewdest captains’ to have played the game ever across the globe. Pushing 40, this could also turn out to be Dhoni’s last season for his favourite franchise CSK.

Missing

Rabade and Nortje, the Proteas players, have landed up in India to play IPL but won’t be available for selection for DC as they have to undergo quarantine in view of Covid-19 scenario.

Toss

Wankhede is expected to favour the team batting first. The team that wins the toss could choose to bat first.

Probable IX:

CSK: Gaikwad, Uthappa, Suresh Raina/Rayudu, du Plessis, MS Dhoni, Moin Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar & Imran Tahir

DC: Shah, Dhawan, Rahane, Pant, Stoinis, Hetmyer/Sam Billings, Chris Woakes/Tom Curran, R. Ashwin, Praveen Dubey/Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma & Umesh Yadav