The highly anticipated El Clasico of the IPL is here, with Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians set to clash at Chepauk on Sunday. Ruturaj Gaikwad will lead CSK, while Suryakumar Yadav takes charge of MI in Hardik Pandya’s absence due to a one-match ban.
Chennai has several things to assess, particularly their playing XI. One of the key decisions will be choosing the opener between Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. CSK is expected to field a strong spin attack, featuring Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, and Shreyas Gopal alongside Ravindra Jadeja.
On the other hand, Mumbai Indians will be without both Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya in their opening match. Suryakumar Yadav will captain the side, and Hardik’s absence could pave the way for Corbin Bosch. Also, Mujeeb Ur Rahman might be a crucial pick, considering the conditions at Chepauk.
MA Chidambaram Pitch Report
The pitch at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is generally on the slower side and is known to favour spinners. However, in the previous season, batters also found good support, especially in the second innings. Dew often plays a crucial role in matches held in Chennai.
There is no doubt about the significant assistance available for spinners, making it an ideal surface for them to thrive. One positive for Chennai Super Kings is their acquisition of Ravichandran Ashwin in the mega auction. Ashwin is the most successful spinner on this ground, having taken the most wickets in IPL matches here. In 50 matches at this venue, he has claimed 46 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 6.26.
A total of 85 IPL matches have been played at this venue. Out of these, teams batting first have won 49 times, while teams chasing have secured victory on 36 occasions.
MA Chidambaram stats
| Stat | Record |
| Highest Team Score | 246/3 – CSK vs Rajasthan Royals (2010) |
| Lowest Team Score | 70 all-out – RCB vs CSK (2019) |
| Most Runs Scored | Suresh Raina – 1,498 |
| Most Wickets Taken | R. Ashwin – 50 |
| Highest Individual Score | 127 – Murali Vijay (CSK) vs Rajasthan Royals (2010) |
| Best Bowling Performance | 5/5 – Akash Madhwal (MI) vs Lucknow Super Giants (2023) |
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