'Shivam Dube will hit two or three balls to Marine Drive, one to Church Gate' - Aakash Chopra ahead of IPL's El Clasico

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has shared some intriguing insights ahead of the the much-anticipated clash between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, April 14.

Chopra singled out Shivam Dube as the player to watch out for from the CSK camp, highlighting Dube's explosive batting prowess, particularly against spinners. With Dube eyeing a spot in the Indian T20 World Cup squad, his motivation to perform at his best is sky-high. Chopra emphasised the importance of power hitters in high-scoring games, and Dube fits the bill perfectly with his ability to consistently clear the boundaries.

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"There is a kid in Chennai, his name is Shivam Dube, who is actually a Mumbai kid. He hits the ball so far. He will hit two or three balls to Marine Drive, one to Church Gate, and one to the Air India building, which is nearby. There is a threat from him," Chopra said.

"If you are talking about high-scoring games, you have to go with your six hitters - find a batter who has the ability and power to consistently hit sixes and Shivam Dube definitely has those attributes. He also has the fire within, that he needs to do so well that he goes to the World Cup. So that is a different kind of motivation," he added.

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Ajinkya Rahane, the seasoned campaigner, also finds himself under Chopra's radar. Chopra believes Rahane's familiarity with the Wankhede pitch could be a game-changer for CSK.

"The second, I am doing a slightly left-right selection because the last time this guy played here, he played incredibly well - Ajinkya Rahane. No matter how he plays in other places, he plays well once he comes to this ground because he knows this pitch very well. There is pace in this surface and it suits him," he added.

I am split between Mustafizur and Pathirana as the third player: Aakash Chopra

In terms of bowling options, Chopra highlighted the significance of Matheesha Pathirana and Mustafizur Rahman for CSK. While Pathirana's inclusion could make it an even contest, Rahman's presence becomes crucial if Pathirana misses out. Chopra stressed the importance of quality fast bowling to contain the opposition's batting firepower.

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"I am split between Mustafizur and Pathirana as the third player. If Pathirana plays, then Matheesha Pathirana. If he doesn't play, then Mustafizur Rahman because you need some quality fast bowling to stop the opposing team's batting juggernaut. You need bowlers who can roll their fingers over the ball, bowl accurate yorkers, and don't come under pressure if they are hit for a few fours and sixes," Chopra concluded.