Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 49th match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday. Having won five games out of nine, CSK are placed third in the IPL 2024 standings. On the other hand, PBKS are currently placed eighth in the IPL 2024 standings with six points on the board after winning three matches out of nine. Ahead of this exciting clash, we look at the predicted XIs of both sides.
CSK Predicted XI
Ajinkya Rahane
In the upcoming match against PBKS, Ajinkya Rahane will open the innings for CSK. Rahane, who has not been able to replicate his IPL 2023 form in the current season, has scored 170 runs in nine matches and will be eager to make a significant score soon.
Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain)
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad heads into this match after a magnificent 98-run knock against SRH, showcasing an explosive strike rate of 181.48. Gaikwad will be focused on providing another quick start for his team as he aims to put early pressure on the PBKS bowlers on Wednesday.
Daryl Mitchell
Daryl Mitchell, known for his ability to strike sixes, will seek to bring stability to CSK’s top order. Despite scoring only 198 runs in eight matches, the Kiwi batter has the potential to make a significant impact and will be keen to make his presence felt in the last few games of the season.
Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja will look to bolster both the batting and bowling departments for CSK. The accomplished Indian all-rounder has contributed 157 runs in nine matches, boasting an impressive average of 78.50, and has also taken five wickets. Jadeja is expected to make an impact with both bat and ball in the upcoming match.
Shivam Dube
Shivam Dube is the standout performer for CSK this season. The tall and talented batter scored a quickfire 66 runs off 27 balls against LSG, hitting seven sixes and three boundaries. With a total of 350 runs in nine matches at an impressive average of 58.33 and a strike rate of 172.41, Dube will be eager to produce another strong performance against PBKS.
MS Dhoni (wicketkeeper)
MS Dhoni continues to perform for CSK, consistently defying his age and delighting fans with his batting prowess. Despite spending limited time at the crease, the veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batter has made a significant impact whenever he has batted. With 96 runs in nine matches, Dhoni’s remarkable strike rate of 259.46 makes him a serious threat to the best bowlers in IPL.
Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali adds balance to the CSK batting lineup. While Moeen has scored 30 runs in his solitary innings, he has been influential with the ball having taken two wickets in four matches. The English all-rounder will look to have a bigger say with bat and ball in the upcoming game.
Deepak Chahar
Indian fast bowler Deepak Chahar will lead the CSK bowling attack. Chahar has taken five wickets in seven matches, showcasing his skill in generating swing and bowling accurate lengths. Additionally, he can prove useful with the bat and is capable of scoring crucial runs lower down the order when needed.
Tushar Deshpande
Tushar Deshpande will offer variety to the CSK bowling attack. His knack for bewildering batters with pace variations has earned him 10 wickets in nine matches. Deshpande has also been relatively effective in restricting the opposition, boasting an economy rate of 8.66.
Mustafizur Rahman
Mustafizur Rahman leads the wicket-taking charts for Chennai in IPL 2024 with 14 scalps in eight matches. The Bangladeshi pacer is a crucial member of the CSK fast-bowling unit and will be keen to regain the Purple Cap by adding to his tally of wickets at Chennai.
Matheesha Pathirana
Matheesha Pathirana, one of the most lethal bowlers in IPL 2024, will look to make early breakthroughs for CSK in the next match. With an impressive economy rate of 7.68, Pathirana has already claimed 13 wickets in just six matches. He will be eager to bamboozle PBKS batters with his pace bowling skills come Wednesday.
Impact Sub
Shardul Thakur
PBKS Predicted XI
Sam Curran
Sam Curran has taken on plenty of responsibilities for PBKS this season. Handed captaincy duties in the absence of the injured Shikhar Dhawan, Sam Curran has scored 152 runs this season, including one fifty. He’s also accounted for 12 scalps and is crucial to the PBKS lineup.
Prabhsimran Singh
In the team’s last match, Prabhsimran Singh scored 54 runs in just 20 balls against KKR, hitting five sixes and four boundaries. He boasts a strike rate of 163.74 in IPL 2024 and will try to add to his 208 runs this season when he faces CSK.
Rilee Rossouw
Although Rilee Rossouw hasn’t put his best foot forward in IPL 2024 yet, the South African deserves another chance to showcase his ability. A star in T20s, Rossouw has scored more than 8000 runs in the format and boasts a strike rate of 143.02.
Jonny Bairstow
Jonny Bairstow was on fire against KKR, scoring 108 runs off 48 balls, including nine sixes and eight boundaries. Bairstow’s return to form will provide a significant boost to Punjab’s chances of a win against CSK.
Shashank Singh
Shashank Singh has been a revelation with PBKS this season. The top-scorer for PBKS in IPL 2024, Shashank has remained not out in five of the nine matches and has made 263 runs with an average of 65.75 and a strike rate of 182.64. His best of 68 not out against KKR helped PBKS to a memorable win in IPL 2024.
Jitesh Sharma
Wicketkeeper batter Jitesh Sharma will be desperate to get runs quickly after enduring an underwhelming campaign so far. However, he is capable of taking any bowling attack to the cleaners as his IPL strike rate of 151.47 suggests and will be hoping to find some form soon.
Ashutosh Sharma
A revelation if there ever was one, Ashutosh Sharma has been one of the finds of IPL 2024. An explosive batter, Ashutosh has played numerous important knocks for PBKS this season and has made 159 runs, including a fifty while batting down the order. He’s averaging almost 40 this season and has an impressive strike rate of 189.29.
Harpreet Brar
Harpreet Brar has taken four wickets in IPL 2024 and has bowled well with a relatively decent economy of 7.62. Capable of contributing with a few runs too, Harpreet Brar has a strike rate of 141.46 this season and will be looking to have a positive impact against CSK.
Kagiso Rabada
Kagiso Rabada’s experience is vital to the PBKS bowling unit and he will need to be at his best against CSK to help his team have a chance of winning the game. He’s taken over 100 IPL wickets and has 10 scalps in IPL 2024, making him a genuine threat to opposition batters.
Harshal Patel
The leading wicket-taker for PBKS this season, Harshal Patel has accounted for 14 scalps in nine matches in the ongoing campaign. He’s averaging 23.29 in IPL 2024 but will be looking to improve his economy, which is a bit on the higher side.
Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh has done relatively well in IPL 2024 and has claimed 12 scalps in nine matches. He’s averaging 25.17 and has been bowling when the pressure is on the bowlers, making him an integral member of the PBKS bowling unit.
Impact Sub
Rahul Chahar
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