IPL playoffs, the most anticipated part of the event around the globe, and it gets underway today when Mumbai Indians lock horns with the Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.Whenever these 2 teams meet-up, on paper, it looks like either a Real Madrid vs. Barcelona game or a Rangers vs. Celtic game. Such is the nature of the rivalry between these 2 teams, and this fixture won’t disappoint.
Even though you may be a resident of Chennai or Mumbai, sometimes you find 2 out of 5 persons being a fan of your rival, and spats between you and your opposite just never end. Both teams come into this fixture in complete contrast. Mumbai Indians have instantiated a terrific comeback after their first 4 losses to finish second, while their opponents, the Chennai Super Kings, have lost 4 out of their last 7 matches, one of them being Mumbai.Mumbai pitch has been a batsman’s paradise. A flat wicket, with almost no help for spinners, and it makes it even worse with short boundaries all around.
Chennai Super Kings overall head-to-head record against the Mumbai Indians in the IPL is in favor 10-9 and 4-1 when it comes to the knockout stages.
Chennai Super Kings will be without the services of their talisman, Brendon Mccullum, who is on national duty. So, captain MS Dhoni will look to promote Du Plessis up the order to partner with Michael Hussey, and might be tempted to take of Dwayne Smith and replace him with Kyle Abbott. Raina has disappointed this season, which is seldom compared to his last 7 editions. Negi, Jadeja and Ashwin have formed a terrific spin trio, whilst Nehra, Bravo and Mohit Sharma, have been able to choke the flow of runs at the death.
Mumbai Indians on the other hand, have got all their combinations working, from Lendl Simmons and Parthiv Patel at the top of the order to Lasith Malinga and Mitchell McClenaghan with the new ball. Kieron Pollard and Rohit Sharma have only shown flashes of what they can do, but if they are on song, not even the greatest of bowlers can stop them
Prediction:
Chennai defending a score of 170-180.
