The IPL 2023 playoffs will kick off with reigning champions Gujarat Titans taking four-time champions Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Tuesday. Both of these teams played at the top of their game to grab the first two spots in the points table and thus make it to the playoffs. Both of these teams played the opening match of the season, which Gujarat Titans won by five wickets.
GT was the most consistent team of the IPL 2023 league stage, winning 10 out of their 14 matches whereas CSK won eight out of their 14 games. We look at the current form, head-to-head, players to look out for, and squads of both teams in our match preview.
Current form for CSK: W L W W NR
Chennai Super Kings were able to qualify for the playoffs after a stutter in the middle phase of the tournament. CSK batters, especially their top order has been able to deliver the goods and played a key role in the team’s success. Furthermore, their spinners have done a good job whenever they played in the home conditions.
Current form for GT: W W L W W
Gujarat Titans have come up with a collective effort show in the ongoing season. The batters as well as the bowlers have delivered for the Hardik Pandya-led team and different players were able to put their hand up at different situations.
Head to Head: Matches: 3, Won by GT: 3, Won by CSK: 0.
GT has won all of their three matches against CSK.
Players to watch out for: Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, and Mohammed Shami are going to hold the key for GT.
Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, and Deepak Chahar will be the key players for CSK.
GT Squad for IPL 2023: Wicketkeepers: Wriddhiman Saha, Matthew Wade (AUS), KS Bharat, Urvil Patel.
Batters: Abhinav Manohar, David Miller (SA), Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Kane Williamson (NZ).
All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan (AFG), Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Odean Smith (WI).
Bowlers: Alzarri Joseph (WI), Mohammed Shami, Darshan Nalkande, Noor Ahmad (AFG), R. Sai Kishore, Pradeep Sangwan, Yash Dayal, Jayant Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Joshua Little (IRE), Shivam Mavi.
CSK IPL 2023 Squad:
Wicketkeepers: MS Dhoni, Devon Conway (NZ).
Batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayudu, Subhranshu Senapati, Shaik Rasheed, Ajinkya Rahane.
All-rounders: Moeen Ali (ENG), Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwaine Pretorius (SA), Mitchell Santner (NZ), Ben Stokes (ENG), Ajay Mandal, Bhagath Varma, Nishant Sindhu.
Bowlers: Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Choudhary, Matheesha Pathirana (SL), Simarjeet Singh, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana (SL).
