Mumbai lock horns with Chennai in IPL’s Clasico

MI have bounced back with two big wins on the trot while CSK are looking good to defend their title

MS Dhoni will be in the spotlight in what could be his final game at the iconic Wankhede Stadium when defending champions Chennai Super Kings take on Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League here on Sunday.

Dhoni returns to the hallowed turf of Wankhede as a player alone having handed over the reins to opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad at the start of the season. Even at 42, Dhoni’s glove work remains impeccable and so does his assessment of the game. But CSK will hope that his tactical acumen also helps them improve a dismal away record this season, having suffered two defeats on the road. CSK would also hope their recent record against MI — four wins in last five matches including their seven-wicket win here last season — holds them in good stead.

Two of IPL’s most successful teams with five titles each, both sides are witnessing a transition in leadership with Hardik Pandya taking over the mantle from Rohit Sharma at MI and Gaikwad succeeding Dhoni at CSK, but there is nothing that suggests their intense rivalry would expect any such shift.

If anything, CSK’s bowlers could be put to the sword by the rampaging MI batters who have gone hammer and tongs on the flat pitches here, scoring in excess of 230 against Delhi Capitals and chasing down nearly 200 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru with more than four overs to spare.

Pandya’s MI have found their footing after a jittery start. Their batters have done well in the last two outings and Suryakumar Yadav’s 17-ball fifty against RCB provides an ominous sign to CSK bowlers, who have shown mastery on slow, turning pitches at the MA Chidambaram Stadium but remain untested on flat, batting-friendly surfaces.

The opening stand between Ishan Kishan (161 runs) and Rohit would thus be crucial in the scheme of things but CSK would also have a lot of assurance with their own batting.

Skipper Gaikwad may not be a marauder with the bat but he can be the silent enforcer in the CSK line-up, which has the exuberance of Rachin Ravindra at the top, the sturdiness of Daryl Mitchell in the middle and the explosiveness of Shivam Dube (176 runs), Ravindra Jadeja and Dhoni in the death overs.

CSK would also be aware that seeing off the dangerous Jasprit Bumrah (10 wickets) and going after the rest of the MI bowling attack would be the key since the others have given away runs at an alarming rate while struggling with their line and lengths on placid surfaces.

Despite Bumrah’s fivewicket haul, MI leaked runs at a high rate to allow RCB to get closer to the 200-run mark here a few nights ago.

Shardul Thakur and Tushar Deshpande play for CSK, but they know the Wankhede well given that they are from Mumbai. Mustafizur Rahman (9 wickets) and the wily Jadeja will have to lead CSK’s effort with the ball given their recent exploits.

On their part, teams say “we want to get as many runs as possible” but by the look of it, scores around 220-230 while batting first could be the best way possible to ensure an upper hand at this venue.