The home team’s recent record against MI also offers confidence, having secured four wins in their last five encounters, including three consecutive victories. MS Dhoni, the iconic CSK skipper, will once again be in the spotlight.
On the other hand, MI will feel the absence of key players, with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah sidelined due to a back injury and regular skipper Hardik Pandya serving a one-match ban for a slow over-rate in the previous season’s final league game. Suryakumar Yadav will step in as captain, adding stability to the batting lineup alongside Rohit Sharma and Tilak Varma. While MI’s fast-bowling lineup appears depleted.
Meanwhile, CSK’s top-order selection dilemma features a choice between New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway to partner Ruturaj Gaikwad.
The high-voltage clash will also offer insights into how the new ball-change rule in the second innings impacts the game.
