IPL 2024: Can CSK settle the scores against LSG?
Chennai Super Kings will meet Lucknow Super Giants in Match 39 of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). Both teams have fared similarly this season, registering four wins and three defeats apiece. Meanwhile, LSG thrashed CSK by eight wickets a few days back. The defending champions would be raring to settle the scores. Here we look at the match preview.
Key details about the match
Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium will host this duel on April 23 (7:30pm IST). Spinners will enjoy bowling here and the pacers will look to provide variations to gain maximum impetus. Meanwhile, the average run rate of teams batting first in Chennai since IPL 2023 reads 8.52. One can watch the match live on the Star Sports Network and stream the same on JioCinema.
Here is the head-to-head record
LSG made their IPL debut in 2022 and have faced the five-time winners CSK only four times. The head-to-head record reads 2-1 in LSG's favor as one of their games last season got abandoned due to rain. As mentioned, LSG defeated CSK in Lucknow last week. KL Rahul led the team from the front with a 53-ball 82.
Can CSK settle the scores?
The presence of multiple all-rounders in the CSK makes the Yellow Brigade a formidable force. While most of their batters have been among the runs, their bowlers looked entirely ineffective in the reverse fixture against CSK. Meanwhile, speedster Mayank Yadav's absence in recent games has dented LSG's plans. Nevertheless, the likes of Rahul, Quinton de Kock, and Nicholas Pooran have been among the runs.
Here are the probable XIs
LSG (Probable XI): Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul (c & wk), Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Matt Henry, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Yash Thakur. Impact sub: Manimaran Siddharth. CSK (Probable XI): Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Rachin Ravindra, Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mustafizur Rahman, Matheesha Pathirana. Impact sub: Sameer Rizvi.
Here are the key performers
Pooran has been striking at 164 in IPL 2024. He averages 82. Rahul has hammered 537 runs against CSK at an impressive average of 44.75. Matheesha Pathirana's tally of 21 IPL wickets in the last five overs is the joint-most for any bowler since 2023. Ravindra Jadeja has hammered 141 runs at a strike rate of 141 besides scalping four wickets in IPL 2024.
