IPL 2023 Predictions: CSK vs LSG

Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants are set to battle against each other in Match 6 of IPL 2023 on April 3.

The Chennai Super Kings are back at the Chepauk Stadium after a hiatus of two seasons.

The 4 times Champions haven’t had the best of starts this season as they were defeated by the Gujarat Titans in the opening fixture on Saturday.

However, as they return to their fortress, they will be hoping to reverse their fortunes.

Ruturaj Gaikwad displayed some brilliant batting to score 92 runs off 50 deliveries in their last match.

However, he will need some support from the other top-order batsmen to take the pressure off him.

The CSK has a strong middle order consisting of Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, and Ambati Rayudu, while Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni will once again play the role of a finisher.

Rajvardhan Hangargekar was another standout performer as he picked up 3 wickets against the Titans.

However, Deepak Chahar, the CSK pace spearhead went wicketless which is a worrying sign.

Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants began their latest journey on a positive note, defeating the Delhi Capitals quite convincingly in their opening match.

LSG has one of the strongest batting line-ups this season, at least on paper.

With Quinton de Kock unavailable for the first few matches, the onus of providing the team with a good start will lie on skipper KL Rahul and Kyle Mayers.

Rahul had an excellent outing in the previous season where he scored 616 runs and was the second-highest run-getter of the tournament.

Kyle Mayers, who is making his IPL debut this season was quite impressive as he scored 73 off just 38 deliveries in the match against DC.

LSG also has a plethora of all-rounders, including Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Hooda, and Ayush Badoni.

The team has splurged ₹ 16 crores on Nicholas Pooran, who can play an important role as the finisher.

The quicker bowlers did an excellent job in the last match and Mark Wood was particularly impressive as he picked up a fifer in his debut game for the LSG.

However, since the pitch at Chennai is more suitable for the spinners, the likes of Ravi Bishnoi and Amit Mishra are likely to play an important role.

For CSK, Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner are likely to play an important role.

Venue Stats (MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai)

T20I Records

Matches won batting first- 5

Matches won bowling first- 1

Average 1st Inns scores- 150

Average 2nd Inns scores- 119

Chennai Super Kings Playing XI:

Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Prashant Solanki

Lucknow Super Giants:

KL Rahul (c), Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Ayush Badoni, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Amit Mishra, Mark Wood

Key Players

Moeen Ali will be a factor against LSG’s selection of left-handers (Mayers, Pooran, Pandya). Also, in all T20s in 2022, Moeen struck 1,263 runs at a strike rate of 149.29.

Ravindra Jadeja has a poor batting record at Chepauk and averages just 17.38 in 24 innings. With the ball at Chepauk, Jadeja has picked up 19 wickets at a strike rate of 25.26.

Deepak Chahar has picked up ten wickets in nine matches at Chepauk at an average of 25.20 and strike rate of 18.90.

KL Rahul has scored two fifties in five innings at Chennai. Overall against CSK, Rahul has scored 435 runs at an average of 43.50 and strike rate of 142.62.

Ravi Bishnoi can be a handful against Moeen Ali. Since the start of 2021, Moeen has been dismissed 12 times by right-arm legspin in franchise T20s, averaging just 17.2 with a strike rate of 135.3.

Mark Wood is on fire, having taken 24 wickets in his last nine T20s.

Who will win

CSK will be buoyed by the home crowd but their batting and bowling lack consistency.

The team is still living in the shadow of MS Dhoni and lacks balance.

LSG will be confident after their winning start to the IPL and look like a really strong unit.

Hence, we think LSG will win.