'He has Overshadowed Jos Buttler...,' Mithali Raj Makes Big Statement

image-lgwo758wSanju Samson with MS Dhoni in IPL (IPLT20.COM)

Chennai Super Kings currently occupy the top spot at the points table of the ongoing IPL 2023 season. The MS Dhoni-led side have secured five wins out of their seven fixtures, and are ahead of defending champions Gujarat Titans on the merit of net run-rate.

With the tournament reaching its halfway stage after Titans huge win over Mumbai Indians on April 25, fans now have a fair idea of which teams hold the best chance of reaching the playoffs stage.

Former Indian women’s captain Mithali Raj has also given her own take on the playoffs’ scenario, as she recently predicted the four sides that can make it to the next round.

Mithali Raj backs CSK and Rajasthan Royals for top four finish

Cricketer-turned-commentator Mithali Raj recently named four IPL 2023 sides which has the best chance of qualifying for the playoffs. During an interview with Times Now, she rated defending champions Gujarat Titans, Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals, KL Rahul’s Lucknow Super Giants and MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings as the leading contenders at the moment. She said:

“Before start of the IPL, I rated GT, RR, LSG and CSK for the playoffs. So I would like to stick to them.”

Raj also pointed out that Rajasthan Royals, under Samson’s leadership, has impressed her the most out of all teams this season. She further praised Royals’ opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for his batting exploits, claiming that the young Indian has even overshadowed his senior opening partner Jos Buttler at certain stages of the tournament.

“Yashasvi has impressed me the most this season. The way he has performed, he has overshadowed Jos Buttler sometimes. To overshadow one of the world's best players when you are batting with him takes a lot of talent.”

Mithali Raj recently became the mentor of Gujarat Giants in the inaugural season of WPL 2023.