When the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) take on the Gujarat Titans (GT) in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Tuesday, it will be a battle of wits between two new captains, Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Both openers, renowned for their elegant shot-making, will face off in a tactical battle as CSK and GT aim to build on their recent victories. Gaikwad took over as captain after the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni stepped down on the eve of CSK’s opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, while Gill had more time to prepare for his new role after Hardik Pandya left the Titans in November 2022.
Gill, 24, is the IPL’s youngest captain, but he showcased his leadership abilities against Mumbai Indians (MI). His position is aided by the presence of head coach Ashish Nehra, a tactically astute mind, the experienced David Miller, and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson.
Gaikwad, on the other hand, impressed on his captaincy debut under the mentorship of Dhoni as CSK cruised to a six-wicket victory over RCB. However, the bowling unit, particularly pacer Tushar Deshpande, will be looking to improve their performance. Despite Mustafizur Rahman’s four-wicket haul, the CSK bowlers allowed Anuj Rawat and Dinesh Karthik to put together a 95-run stand, enabling RCB to post a respectable score.
Deshpande was guilty of leaking runs and will be wary of another subpar performance with veteran Shardul Thakur, who is also a capable batsman, and the uncapped Mukesh Choudhary vying for a spot in the playing XI. Sri Lankan bowler Matheesha Pathirana has also been declared fit to play after recovering from a hamstring injury. Rachin Ravindra, who has bowled well in the nets recently, may also be employed as a spin option.
CSK is unlikely to make any changes to their batting lineup. Ravindra, who impressed with a 15-ball 37 on his IPL debut against RCB, will aim to maintain his form. Young Sameer Rizvi, who made his debut in the last game, did not get a chance to bat and will be eager to showcase his abilities. Dhoni did not bat against Bengaluru, and his legion of fans will be hoping to witness some fireworks from him.
The Titans, on the other hand, will be hoping for a stronger batting effort after a disappointing performance at home against MI. The GT batters failed to convert their starts, and the former champions will rely on Gill and veteran wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha to provide them with a solid start. The middle-order batters, including Azmatullah Omarzai, David Miller, and Rahul Tewatia, will also need to step up.
Meanwhile, GT’s Chennai-born cricketer Sai Sudarshan, who has been in excellent form with the bat recently, could attract some attention from the fans. In the absence of star pacer Mohammad Shami, the Titans bowlers combined to secure a six-run victory over Mumbai. Spinners Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore will be crucial for them on the slow Chepauk track.
