IPL to resume with clash of the titans

The Vivo Indian Premier League is back with a bang as the go-to IPL opener between the Chennai Super Kings and the Mumbai Indians gets us back underway on Sunday night. The world’s biggest franchise tournament resumes after four months off due to Covid-19 and their couldn’t be more controversy surrounding the re-start.

A new look IPL

For most of the teams in the IPL, they are coming back to the second half of the competition without many of their overseas stars who started the campaign, but for the Mumbai Indians, they are boasting an unchanged squad from when the brakes were put on in May. The reigning champs will be hoping to re-find the form that elevated them to the top of the table last year, after a stuttering start to this seasons competition, registering just four wins from their first seven matches.

Hardly the form of champions, but they still find themselves fourth in the table and in a good spot to mount a serious challenge, now the playing field is level again. They will be hoping that bowling talisman Jasprit Bumrah can put shake off the drama that surrounded the end of the India tour of England, and hit the ground running for the first match in Dubai.

A chance to go top

For the Chennai Super Kings, playing in the opening match back gives them a chance to head to the top of the table with a win, and set the standard for the rest of the competition. Many tipped CSK to struggle again this year after not changing many of the old guard that disappointed in 2020, but five wins from their opening seven proved any doubters wrong.

They key areas for the Super Kings come with the ball and that middle order. Their seamers will need to be firing right from the off against a very strong Mumbai batting line up, and whilst Shardul Thakur overperformed last time out, CSK aren’t blessed with the strongest bowling attack.

Suresh Raina will also be crucial for CSK. Likely to bat at four, the Indian will be able to ease the load on the finishers to come later in the innings, if he manages to find form early on. They have the likes of Jadeja and Bravo who are some of the best in the world at finishing an innings, the last thing CSK fans will want is them being exposed early on in the piece.

Match Tip

CSK and the Mumbai Indians always but on a show, but you never know how things are going to play out in what is essentially a tournament opener.

That’s why I am backing there to be 12.5 or more wickets in the match between the Chennai Super Kings and the Mumbai Indians at 1.83 with Betway.

Bet More than 12.5 wickets in the match on Betway