MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai [Source: @BCCI/X]
On Saturday, India will take on England in the second T20 International of the ongoing five-match series. The high-octane clash is scheduled at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India had a phenomenal start to the series, defeating England by seven wickets in the first T20I. Bowling first, India restricted England to a paltry 132-run total before Abhishek Sharma's blistering half-century helped them chase the target inside 13 overs.
So, moving on to the second game, the tourists would be desperate to bounce back and restore parity in the series. As the stage is set for a cracking contest, let's see how the surface at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai will behave throughout the match.
MA Chidambaram Stadium Chennai Stats And Records In T20Is
Criterion | Data |
---|---|
Matches played | 9 |
Matches won batting 1st | 6 |
Matches won bowling 1st | 2 |
Average 1st innings score | 150 |
Average 2nd innings score | 122 |
MA Chidambaram Stadium Chennai Pitch Report: Is It Batting Or Bowling Friendly?
The surface at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai once used to be a paradise for the spinners. However, the venue has offered a great contest between bat and ball in T20 cricket of late.
In IPL 2024, Chennai witnessed seven 170-plus totals out of 18 occasions, with teams breaching the 200-run total four times. More importantly, the bowlers could scalp only 99 wickets across 18 innings. These facts indicate that the pitch in Chennai mostly favoured the batters in the IPL 2024, with the bowlers struggling to pick regular wickets.
Although the new ball bowlers might not find significant seam movement, there could be some swing on offer due to the sea breeze. As the ball gets older, the pacers could be effective with their cutters and hard-length deliveries. The spinners will get some turn and rely on accuracy to succeed here. Unless the pitch is on the drier side, expect the toss-winner to bowl first.
Players To Watch Out For At MA Chidambaram Stadium Chennai
Varun Chakravarthy
- India's premier spinner Varun Chakravarthy had a memorable outing in the first T20I, scalping three crucial wickets for the home team. Although the pitch might not offer significant turn, Varun's variations can once again bamboozle the English batters.
Jos Buttler
- English captain Jos Buttler showcased remarkable form in the last game, scoring a valuable fifty for his side. He is in prolific form and can counter the Indian attack on this surface.
Hardik Pandya
- India's veteran all-rounder Hardik Pandya can be effective with his hard length bowling in Chennai. He loves bowling on tracks where the ball tends to hold up a bit, so his cutters could be handy on this pitch.
P.S: Apart from these players, the eyes will be on Axar Patel, Tilak Varma, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Ben Duckett and Arshdeep Singh.