IPL 2022: Match 33 – Predicted Chennai Super Kings Playing XI vs Mumbai Indians

The Chennai Super Kings will be locking horns with their arch-rivals Mumbai Indians on Thursday, April 21st at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The biggest plus for Chennai is Ruturaj Gaikwad regaining his form against the Gujarat Titans in their last fixture. Gaikwad will hope to carry on the momentum as Chennai look to bounce back and keep themselves in the hunt for the playoffs.

Robin Uthappa and Shivam Dube’s ferocious hitting was the highlight of the show when CSK won against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, but the two struggled in the previous game. Dube will have to repeat the heroics from the game against RCB to lead his team up front. Captain Ravindra Jadeja and former skipper MS Dhoni will have to up their game and play the finisher’s role in the team, to give CSK a perfect end during the death overs.

Here’s the predicted Playing XI of Chennai Super Kings for Match 33 of IPL 2022:

Openers: Ruturaj Gaikwad & Robin Uthappa

Ruturaj made a comeback in CSK’s recent match against the Gujarat Titans, and the fans rejoiced when they saw the 2021 Orange Cap winner hitting the ball hard. Scoring a 73(48) while opening the innings, he gained the long-lost confidence in the game. The team will thus depend upon him to continue playing similarly.

Robin’s game this season has been a bit topsy-turvy. His every good performance is followed by a mediocre or poor game. His game against RCB was memorable, but he failed to perform against GT. Uthappa will have to step up against Mumbai Indians, who are also in search of a win.

The Super Kings will look to their openers to give them a good opening start against Mumbai, who have looked the weakest of all teams so far in IPL 2022.

Middle-order: Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube

The middle-order batters will have a big task to perform in their clinical clash against MI. Moeen Ali has been dismissed early in most of the games he has played so far, but his strengths are known to all. He can provide a crucial knock if the openers fail to perform, and hold the innings tight for long.

Rayudu and Dube are powerful hitters, and they can not risk anything to perform against MI. It will be a vital game, and a win will keep their hopes for the playoffs alive. Rayudu has been good with the bat against MI previously, and thus he will have to lead the attack.

Dube will have to just trust his instincts, and go with the game. If he plays freely and openly, without any pressure, he will surely come up with another match-winning knock, just like he did against RCB. He has performed well this season, and his numbers prove that.

All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Dwayne Bravo

Skipper Jadeja is known to play big-shots under pressure, especially during the death overs. He had smashed Harshal Patel for 36 runs in the previous season of the tournament. He had finished that game scoring 62 runs off mere 28 balls. If he manages to perform a similar act, when put under a situation, then the team can go very far in the game.

CSK needs MS Dhoni’s finishing skills desperately in the game, especially when the team does not have many wickets in hand. Dhoni smashed an unbeaten 50 in the first game, but there has not been a similar performance since. He will have to be the saviour of the team down the order.

The Caribbean all-rounder has been exceptional with the ball, and he is currently the leading wicket-taker in the history of the Indian Premier League. But his show with the bat is yet to be witnessed. Even if he doesn’t get an opportunity to bat, his contribution with the ball will still be a big advantage for his side.

Bowlers: Dwaine Pretorius, Maheesh Theekshana, Mukesh Choudhary

Dwaine Pretorius will return to the playing XI, thereby replacing Chris Jordan. The English bowler has conceded a big amount of runs this season, and the young South African pacer’s skills will prove clinical for CSK during the death overs. He has picked two wickets, each, in the games against Lucknow and Punjab.

Maheesh Theekshana has been sensational in the previous two games against RCB and GT. His spells of 4/33 against RCB and 2/24 show his improvement in the game. The Sri Lankan spinner will be backed by the team and will be expected to deliver similar performances.

Choudhary proved costly in the game against RCB but managed to maintain consistency during their game against GT in Pune. He conceded just 18 runs in the three overs spell scalping the crucial wicket of Shubman Gill. Theekshana and Choudhary will yet again be expected to provide their team with an early breakthrough during the powerplay.

CSK Predicted XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Dwayne Bravo, Dwaine Pretorius, Maheesh Theekshana, Mukesh Choudhary

Out- Chris Jordan; In- Dwaine Pretorius