Traditionally regarded as CSK's fortress, Chepauk has been anything but that this season for the Chennai Super Kings, with the team losing two of its three home matches. This clash is pivotal for CSK, which is languishing in ninth place on the points table with just one win from five games.
CSK's struggles at home have been a major talking point this season. The team has failed to adapt to the slower pitch conditions, which have historically favoured its spinners. Its middle-order batters have the lowest strike rate (126.04) among all teams this season, further compounding its problems.
Without putting too fine a point on it, CSK has been the most unimpressive team in the IPL this season. In its last home game, CSK suffered a disappointing defeat against Delhi Capitals, with the crowd eerily silent as its chase fizzled out. If it loses tonight, it will mark the first time CSK has lost three consecutive IPL matches at Chepauk.
With Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out for the season due to injury, MS Dhoni has been reinstated as captain. While Dhoni's leadership brings hope, his recent batting form and fitness levels have raised concerns. The team will rely heavily on his tactical acumen to make a return to the winning ways. Who will replace Gaikwad is the other question. Whether CSK think-tank will opt for a youngster or go back to Rahul Tripathi? Knowing its thinking ways, the choice may be for the latter.
KKR, currently sixth on the points table, has had a mixed season with two wins and three losses. Its Caribbean stalwarts, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, are yet to fire, but Varun Chakravarthy has been a standout performer with his mystery spin. And Chepauk is the home ground for this Tamil Nadu tweaker.
Ajinkya Rahane, who enjoyed a career revival at CSK last season, will lead KKR against his former franchise. Dwayne Bravo, another familiar face for CSK, will plot against them in his new role as KKR's mentor.
Chepauk's surface is likely to favour spinners, making the duel between Ravindra Jadeja and Varun Chakravarthy crucial. Both teams have struggled with their middle-order strike rates. The team that can capitalise on field restrictions and rotate strikes effectively in the middle overs will have the edge.
A win tonight is crucial for CSK to keep its playoff hopes alive and reclaim its dominance at Chepauk. For KKR, a victory would push its position into the top half of the table and boost its confidence heading into the second part of the season.
Probable teams:
CSK: Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (capt, wk), R Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana.
KKR: Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (capt), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Moeen Ali/Spencer Johnson, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy.