IPL 2022 | CSK vs MI - Pre-Match Analysis

We are down to probably the most awaited match of this season and every other season of IPL. It is the clash of the titans, the ‘El Clasico of IPL’, as it is the clash between the Chennai Super Kings and the Mumbai Indians. Both teams for the past decade have provided us with nail-biting thrillers and terrific individual performances. 

Alas, both teams are at the bottom of the table, and Mumbai has yet to open its accounts under the wins category. Both the teams have struggled with their bowling attack in the death overs, and their lower wicket-taking tendency affected their chances to defend totals. Let us analyze their performances this season across the three phases of play.

With the bat

Chennai Super Kings 

One of Chennai’s significant issues this season has been the lacklustre start by their openers. Gaikwad couldn’t get into the best of his forms, and the onus was upon Uthappa to steady the ship. They have a strike rate of just 108.44 but what hit them hard was their low runs per wicket value in contrast to their 2021 season (44.31). CSK would definitely want their openers to provide a good start in the powerplay consistently. 

They have a very good middle-order with the in-form Dube and Rayudu steading the ship and consistently taking on the bowlers. They also have a stunning strike rate of 182.07 in the death overs this season (second-best among all the teams), and they would definitely be hoping for a more robust finish in the forthcoming match.

Mumbai Indians

MI have had a comparatively better start in the powerplay with a better strike rate and runs per wicket value than CSK. They have a very talented middle-order comprising two young but dexterous talents and the experienced duo of Suryakumar Yadav and Kieron Pollard. Still, the middle-order has been quite unstable as they have lost a wicket every 21 deliveries.

An absorbing fact to note here is that when Mumbai Indians have chased totals this season, they have a strike rate of 143.2 in the middle overs, and they have a strike rate of 101.8 while batting first. So CSK have to be wary while defending as Mumbai will come all out against them. 

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for their death overs phase since they have a strike rate of 220 while batting first but a mere 142.5 while chasing totals which have hugely affected them during chases.

With the ball

Chennai Super Kings 

One of the significant issues with CSK is that they had a below-par powerplay in the first four matches in the IPL, having conceded 8.9 runs per over and took 57 deliveries to get a solitary wicket. But ever since Maheesh Theekshana has been introduced into the team fold, they have conceded only 6.17 runs per over and have taken just 18 deliveries to get a wicket. So CSK will be backing him to deliver in the forthcoming matches. 

They have also done well in the middle overs, taking a wicket every 21 deliveries and conceding a boundary only every 6.5 balls. But the place where they have struggled to create an impact is the death overs. They have conceded close to 10.3 runs per over, and Chris Jordan being a death specialist, has conceded the highest economy of 13.35 in the death overs. Bravo, on the other hand, has shown his expertise in the death by picking six wickets and conceding an economy of 7.15

CSK would want to bring back Dwaine Pretorious into the team fold. He has a knack for picking wickets and is known for his off-cutters and yorkers. He has bowled 22 deliveries in the death overs this season and has conceded an economy of 7.36. He also induced a lot of false shots among the batters, which is proven by his high false shot percentage of 47.92.

Mumbai Indians 

Mumbai Indians have struggled with their bowling attack and are still sorting out their best combination. They have been pretty reasonable in the powerplay conceding just below 7.3 runs per over, but their middle overs record has bruised them. They have not been able to get consistent wickets, and at the same time, they have conceded 9.3 runs per over on average. 

They have used ten bowlers in the middle overs, and the only one to stand out, in particular, is Murugan Ashwin, with four wickets at 7.91 runs per over. Bumrah, too, hasn’t had the best of his starts, and in the middle overs, he has bowled 60 deliveries but was only to take a solitary wicket at a high economy rate of 9.2.

Their record in the death overs cuts a sorry figure on their bowling attack. They have leaked 11.41 runs per over (8.21 in the 2021 season), and Bumrah is their only bowler to have conceded less than ten runs per over in this phase. So Mumbai would definitely want someone to back Burmah in the death overs.

Matchups

Jasprit Bumrah vs Ambati Rayudu in the death overs

Though we haven’t witnessed this battle much, the fearless batting of Ambati Rayudu has got the better of Bumrah’s accurate death bowling. Rayudu has a phenomenal strike rate of 209.1 in the 12 balls he has faced and has been dismissed. 

Rohit Sharma vs Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo has got the better of Rohit Sharma on five occasions, 4 of which have come in the middle overs in 49 balls, and Rohit had a strike rate of just over 120. In the death overs, though he has got the MI skipper’s wicket only once, he has given only 18 runs away in the 16 balls with balls per boundary value of 8.

Jadeja vs Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit Sharma

Jadeja has kept it very tight against SKY and Rohit in the middle overs conceding an economy rate of 5.42 and 5.82, respectively and has also dismissed them both twice. He has excellent balls per boundary value of 23 against Rohit. It will be interesting to see if Jadeja brings himself earlier into the attack to counter Rohit's attacking style of play.

MS Dhoni vs Bumrah and Unadkat in the death overs 

Dhoni appears to have gotten back his previous mojo with a couple of breezy knocks. However, he has contrasting results from Bumrah and Unadkat.

Unadkat - Dhoni has been in a beast mode against Unadkat in the death overs. He has scored 60 runs off 24 balls with a boundary every 2.6 balls.

Bumrah - Bumrah has always kept it tight against MS Dhoni, and we have also noticed in the two IPL finals where umrah got the better of Dhoni. He has scored only 39 runs off 37 deliveries and has been dismissed three times.