CSK to rule over Mumbai in top draw curtain raiser
MS Dhoni will be keen to lead the Chennai Super Kings to victory in a repeat of last year’s Indian Premier League Final. In the showcase match last year the Mumbai Indians held on to defeat CSK by just one run. But this year's IPL opener will be anything but normal with the United Arab Emirates hosting the event which is being held behind closed doors.
Last year
It was a clean sweep for the Mumbai Indians in 2019 with four victories over CSK, with victory margins of 37 runs, 46 runs and 6 wickets before their showdown in the final. West Indian power hitter Kieron Pollard proved to be the difference in the final last year with an explosive 41* from just 25 balls and Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma will be delighted to have the experienced 33-year old back this year.
For the Chennai Super Kings getting rid of the scar damage of losing to Mumbai is essential and what better chance than meeting them in their first game. Since announcing his retirement from International Cricket, MS Dhoni has been inundated with praise from all corners of the world, but he would like nothing more than to give something back to his loyal CSK fans by getting off to a good start in this years IPL.
Overseas Match Winners?
The reigning champs have a wealth of overseas talent that will look to make the difference on Saturday. Chris Lynn has built his reputation as one of the hardest hitters of the ball and will target cashing in in the powerplay. With the ball, the left handed Trent Boult is one of the few players in the world to get the white ball swinging both ways early doors, so he is bound to test out the CSK openers.
For CSK, the veteran Imran Tahir, will be looking to add to his 79 IPL wickets with another exceptional season like last year, which saw him take the purple cap. The South African leg spinner is capable of taking wickets early in the powerplay as well as throughout the middle overs. Tahir’s South African team mate Faf du Plessis and West Indian Dwayne Bravo will look to use their experience to guide CSK to a big score.
Match Tip
Mumbai go in to the match as slight favourites but as last year shown, there was very little to separate the sides in the table, with Mumbai just sneaking in to first place on net run rate.
The bookies are struggling to separate the two sides but for me the Chennai Super Kings led by the legend of MS Dhoni are going to be a very hard team to beat for Mumbai.
It is going to be a tight one but the extra experience in the CSK side could just be the difference that gets them over the line.
I’m backing Chennai Super Kings to beat the Mumbai Indians at 2.05 with Betway.
Post bet chat Jack's Tips:
CSK snuck over the line in a last over thriller. Ambati Rayudu's 71 the difference between the sides.