Kamal Ghorui
With the tournament at its halfway stage, both sides are placed similarly on the points table, each having secured three wins and suffered four defeats from seven matches. A win in this contest could be pivotal in building momentum and improving their standings.
CSK head into the fixture brimming with confidence after a dominant 103-run victory over arch-rivals Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. Sanju Samson led the charge with the bat, smashing an unbeaten 101 to steer CSK to 207/6. The bowlers complemented the effort in style, with Akeal Hosein picking up four wickets as MI were bundled out for 104.
Back at their home ground after a brief away stretch, CSK will aim to capitalise on their recent form. Despite dealing with injury concerns, they have managed to find a balanced combination. Their record at Chepauk this season has also been positive, registering two wins in three outings.
Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, come into the clash on the back of consecutive defeats. They were first handed a 99-run loss by Mumbai Indians and then fell short by five wickets against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, despite Sai Sudharsan’s brilliant century. These losses followed a three-match winning run that had reignited their campaign.
With their momentum dented and a tight schedule ahead, GT will be keen to return to winning ways. While their bowling attack continues to be a major strength, the middle order remains a concern that needs urgent attention.
Squads:
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), M.S. Dhoni, Sanju Samson (wk), Dewald Brevis, Urvil Patel, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Shreyas Gopal, Mukesh Choudhary, Spencer Johnson, Akeal Hosein, Prashant Veer, Kartik Sharma, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Zak Foulkes, Akash Madhwal
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Kumar Kushagra, Glenn Phillips, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kagiso Rabada, R. Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Sharma, Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Luke Wood, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, Arshad Khan, Anuj Rawat, Kulwant Khejroliya, Gurnoor Brar, M Shahrukh Khan
