The first qualifying match of IPL 2023 will be played between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans on Tuesday, May 23. This first game of the playoffs will be played at the MA Chidambaram (Chepauk) Stadium in Chennai. The match will begin at 7:30 p.m. The winning team in this match will go directly to the final. With what strategy both teams will take the field in this match, it will be a matter to be seen.
On one hand, Chennai Super Kings, managed by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, will have the advantage of local conditions, while on the other hand, Gurat Titans will play their first match at Chepauk this season. Given this, the CSK coach, Stephen Fleming, has expected what could happen.
In the match, there will be a challenge of the experienced captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni facing Hardik Pandya. Though Hardik Pandya understands Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s captaincy very well. In the Indian team, he has played many matches with Dhoni. At the same time, Gujarat, under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya, has played three matches against Chennai so far in the IPL, in which Gujarat’s winning percentage has been 100.
A very similar thing has been seen in the Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans team this season that both teams did not pay attention to expensive players. For one, Chennai gave only one chance to Krishnappa Gautam, who had a whopping price tag of around Rs 10 crore, due to the combination of the team. On the other hand, Gujarat did not give a single chance to Shivam Mavi, worth Rs 6 crores, and preferred Mohit Sharma instead of him.
Gujarat Titans will play their first match in IPL 2023 at Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. The slow pitch here can become a challenge for Gujarat. Chennai’s Deepak Chahar may prove to be the death knell for Gujarat in the power play.
At the same time, Dasun Shanaka can be effective for Gujarat in other ways besides all aspects. Shanaka is the captain of the Sri Lankan national team and Mathisha Parithana and Mahish Teekshana, playing out of Chennai, are Sri Lankan players and have played under Shanaka’s captaincy. In such a situation, Dasun Shanaka can prove to be effective in providing inputs to his Gujarat side to deal with Pathirana and Teekshana.
This match is very important for both of us. In such a situation Chennai and Gujarat would like to play their best XI. Fast bowler Joshua Little may return to Gujarat’s playing XI. Apart from this, spinner Sai Kishore can also be a part of the playing eleven in place of Yash Dayal.
At the same time, there are hardly any changes to the Chennai starting lineup. Ruturaj Gaikwad can start the innings from the team side along with Devon Conway. Apart from this, Ajinkya Rahane can play the role of number three. Now we have to see which playing XI the two teams go down with and who they give place to in the playing XI.