IPL 2024, CSK vs LSG: Decoding the key player battles
Match 39 of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) will witness the battle between Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants. The Super Kings would be raring to settle the scores as LSG thrashed them by eight wickets a few days back Both teams have fared similarly this season, registering four wins and three defeats apiece. Here we decode the key player battles.
KL Rahul vs Deepak Chahar
KL Rahul was instrumental to LSG's win over CSK last week as he made a 53-ball 82. His battle with Deepak Chahar would be enticing. As per ESPNcricinfo, Chahar's tally of 56 powerplay wickets is the most for a bowler since IPL 2018. The two have met 10 times in the IPL, and Rahul has smashed 157 runs without getting dismissed (SR: 163.54).
Nicholas Pooran vs Matheesha Pathirana
Nicholas Pooran has aced the finisher's role this season. He has been striking at 164 in IPL 2024. Matheesha Pathirana will have the onus to keep him quiet. The pacer's toe-crushing yorkers have tormented several prominent names this season. In fact, his tally of 21 IPL wickets in the last five overs is the joint-most for any bowler since 2023.
Shivam Dube vs Ravi Bishnoi
Shivam Dube, who missed out in his last outing, has been a different beast in CSK colors. His proficiency against spinners makes his face-off against Ravi Bishnoi interesting. Though Bishnoi has dismissed Dube once across four IPL meetings, the latter has a strike rate of 157.14 in this regard. However, Bishnoi's overall economy against southpaws is just 7.11 (IPL).
Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Mohsin Khan
CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad threw away his start against LSG last week as he perished for 17. Meanwhile, his vulnerability against left-arm pacers can be exploited by Mohsin Khan. The CSK skipper has fallen to left-arm fast bowlers thrice across six meetings this season. Mohsin has scalped four wickets in the nine powerplay overs he has bowled in IPL 2024.
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, teams have crossed the 170-run mark in three out of the four innings here this season. One can watch the match live on the Star Sports Network and stream the same on JioCinema.
