IPL 2024 CSK vs GT Preview - 2 new captains aiming to continue their respective dynasties

Key match stats

Pitch Stats – IPL records MA Chidambaram Stadium

Pitch stats from the 10 most recent IPL matches played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium

Team form CSK vs GT
CSK: W
GT: W

Recent meetings: IPL 2023 - CSK won by 5 wickets, CSK won by 15 runs, GT won by 5 wickets

Weather

General Forecast: Dry and clear
Chance of dew: Low

Preview CSK vs GT

Last year's top 2 do battle once again for the chance to establish back to back wins. It's still very early days in what has been a fantastic start to IPL 2024 but victory here would be a statement win for either of these sides as they bid to emulate 2023's final appearance.

CSK's win in the opening game of the season against RCB was the most convincing of any side in the opening round of fixtures although you can imagine that they'll be a little disappointed that they didn't put the match to bed sooner.

The 95 run partnership between Karthik and Rawat underlined the lack of a high class death bowler in the line-up and on another day that might have cost them. Pathirana has now joined up with the CSK squad and declared himself fit to play but it will be interesting to see who Chennai would leave out to accommodate him.

The most likely candidate would be Mustafizur Rahman but the Fizz gave an absolute master class of bowling here on Friday to knock the top off a very powerful RCB batting line-up. Still only 28-years-old, it felt like Mustafizur's career at the very top ended some years ago following a series of injuries. There is a reason that across the long history of cricket so few players have tried to do what he does and that is because even if you have the suppleness and strength in you wrist, forearm and shoulder, the strain on the body of essentially attempting to bowl spin at 80+mph is immense.

Was this a one off performance or is the Fizz back? It is worth noting that RCB lined-up with right handers in their top 5 which very much played into Mustafizur's hands whereas GT will present a more balanced line-up with much more dangerous lower-middle order hitters.

As for Gujarat Titans, their score of 168 didn't really look enough to win their opening game but Mumbai stalled in the later part of their innings and GT took full advantage. While a lot of criticism will be aimed at MI's lack of intensity in that final third, credit too has to go to new Titans captain Shubman Gill for getting his team to believe victory was still possible.

Playing his trump cards in Rashid Khan and Mohit Sharma all at once was brave but it ultimately worked. At the close of the 13th over, MI needed 57 from 42 with 7 wickets in hand, a position that you would back most teams in most conditions to win from. However, the 4 overs that followed all bowled by the aforementioned pair resulted in just a solitary boundary and took the equation to an even 2 a ball for the last 4 overs.

It ultimately meant that both Gaikwad and Shubman Gill were able to claim victory in their first matches in charge. That will certainly help them settle into their role and sustain the feel good factor which must have been flowing through both these squads following their fine performances in 2023. However, a win in this one would really establish their credentials as the men who can lead franchises that are used to success onto further glory.

CSK vs GT head to head

GT bowling vs CSK batting

Gujarat started their innings against MI with 5 straight overs from Azmatullah Omarzai and Umesh Yadav, a curious tactic especially when you consider the 4 in a row from Rashid and Mohit noted above. The usual theory is that you don't want to allow batters to settle on a specific pace and trajectory so lets see if that was a one off or whether GT are looking to do things a bit differently.

Ravindra IPL 2024 powerplay record

They certainly won't want to give Rachin Ravindra too many opportunities to score. The young Kiwi really hit the ground running in his IPL debut, scoring 31 runs in the powerplay alone at a strike rate better than any one else managed in the opening round of games.

Getting off to a fast start looks likely to be key on this pitch and against this opposition. Mumbai Indians played Rashid Khan with the utmost respect on Sunday evening but ultimately dug themselves into a bit of a hole. CSK might fancy that the likes of Gaikwad and Dube can take him on a bit more.

Gaikwad T20 head to head vs Rashid Khan

A man who knows the conditions here in Chepauk very well is Mohit Sharma. His return from the cricketing wilderness was a major factor in GT's success last season and you feel he'll be key to them limiting CSK again in this match.

Mohit Sharma T20 record at the MA Chidambaram Stadium

CSK bowling vs GT batting

The MA Chidambaram has not been a happy hunting ground for many of GT's batsmen over the years. The only outlier in that regard is Kane Williamson but it'd probably require him to come in for a bowler and completely rebalance the side.

Batsman	Average	Strike Rate
DA Miller	20.8	136.1
Shubman Gill	24.0	125.0
V Shankar	15.0	121.6
M Shahrukh Khan	24.0	120.0
KS Williamson	140.0	119.7
WP Saha	19.1	111.0

GT batsmen T20 records at the MA Chidambaram Stadium

Sai Sudharsan may not have played IPL or T20 international cricket at this venue but he is Chennai born and bred and will therefore be familiar with conditions. His form from the end of last season appears to have carried over to this one and he could be a major factor not only in the outcome of this match but in GT's season more generally.

Sai Sudharsan has yet to be dismissed by a slow-left arm bowler in his relatively short IPL career and his role in negating the threat of Ravi Jadeja in those middle overs will be crucial. Jadeja was allowed to do his usual strangle job on a right-hand dominant RCB line-up in the opening match and GT will want to avoid the same happening to them. As well as Sai Surdharsan, GT also have David Miller who has been very effective against Jadeja in previous meetings.

Miller T20 head to head vs Jadeja

We've alluded to the need for CSK to consider their death bowling options based on the their performance against RCB. It's worth bearing in mind that this GT batting line-up achieved 2 more runs per over at the death than RCB managed in IPL 2023 and were one of the few sides to successfully take on Pathirina in those closing stages too.

Pathirana last season IPL Death Overs records vs GT and all other teams

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All stats used in this blog are from my own databases which are freely accessible below
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