New Delhi: Chennai Super Kings and the defending champions Gujarat Titans are set to play the opening encounter of IPL 2023. It will be a battle between mentor MS Dhoni and mentee Hardik Pandya and between their styles of captaincy. While MS Dhoni has been a legend when it comes to captaincy, Pandya has shown grit in his leadership, be it for India or GT.
While a good performance in this IPL might confirm Pandya as the next captain for India, on the other hand, it might be the farewell edition for MSD.
GT will look to continue from where it left
Titans have in-form Shubman Gill in the opening slot who has single-handedly won games for India recently. Wriddhiman Saha might be opening with Gill, who has been doing fine in the domestic circuit but IPL is a different ball game. GT would love it if Saha repeats last year’s performance for them.
They have the likes of Kane Williamson, David Miller, Matthew Wade, Hardik Pandya and Rahul Tewatia as a power-hitting middle order. If the team goes with Rashid Khan, Shivam Mavi and Jayant Yadav, their depth in batting will be their top strength.
Mohammed Shami, R Sai Kishore, Yash Dayal and Sai Sudersan make for a formidable Indian bowling attack. However, their in-form bowlers are young while some experienced names like Mohit Sharma and Pradeep Sangwan have a question mark on them. The team will depend on Shami, Rashid and Pandya to lead the attack.
The bowlers are getting game ready ?#AavaDe pic.twitter.com/MlEB8b4K2f
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) March 29, 2023
Their young lot seems to be one of the best in business which might help them with the Impact Player rule. GT might try Srikar Bharat in place of Saha, though Bharat is more of a long-format player.
Batting depth might win CSK games despite players ruled out or missing
Chennai Super Kings has Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes as their top four with in-form Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Deepak Chahar and Shivam Dube in the middle and lower order. With a mix of experience and hitters, CSK makes for one of the best batting line-ups in the IPL. The inclusion of Stokes has strengthened their middle order and he is someone who can handle batting collapses well.
Super Kings will hope Ruturaj and Conway to be in form and give them a good start for Ali and Stokes to capitalise on.
Except for Jadeja, CSK lacks proper Indian all-rounders and here they will keep youngsters like Rajvardhan Hangargekar as one of their Impact Players.
#VaaThala we ride at 7️⃣! ?#WhistlePodu #Yellove ? pic.twitter.com/RpqjBbCXLK
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 30, 2023
Their last year’s good perfomer Mukesh Chaudhary was injured and replaced by Akash Singh while Kyle Jamieson is also ruled out of the tournamnet. With Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana missing the inital games, CSK will need Deepak Chahar and Tushar Deshpande to be at top of their games.
Prediction
Dhoni and Pandya are two great minds when it comes to take risks in captaincy, this will make the Impact Player rule an interesting one in the first game. Both teams have strong batting line-ups and some big names in bowling. Standing pretty equally, the game will be decided by the use of new rules and strategies to their best.
Playing for the first time in front of the home crowd, fans will want GT to win the game at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The match will begin at 7:30 pm on March 31.