IPL 2023: Match 61, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Predicted Playing XI vs Kolkata Knight Riders

11 months ago 129

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are in tremendous form at the ongoing Indian Premier League 2023. The four-time champions, who had a season to forget last year, have bounced back stronger and are inching closer to a playoff spot. In their quest of attaining a top two spot, they will be locking horns with two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the 61^st match of the IPL 2023.

The two sides last met in the 33^rd game of this season at the Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata. CSK dominated the game and clinched a 49-run victory after putting up 235 runs while batting first. CSK have put up brilliant performances at their home ground, the MA Chidambaram Stadium, and will be hoping to continue the same form against KKR.

Let’s look at Chennai Super Kings’ probable playing XI against Kolkata Knight Riders for the 61^st game of IPL 2023

Openers: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway

Ruturaj Gaikwad has been providing his side with some solid starts while batting on top of the order. Though he has not managed to convert it into a big score, the 26-year-old had managed to do his job brilliantly. The team’s skipper and the management have believed in him and he will be expected to do well in the upcoming game as well.

Devon Conway could not keep up with his consistent performances in CSK’s previous game, when they hosted the Delhi Capitals, but he is one of the key batters in the side. His knocks have proved to be very crucial for CSK, and after his recent exploits against the Punjab Kings, where he notched up 92*, he would be expected to go big at the den.

Middle-order: Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube

Ajinkya Rahane will look to continue what he has been doing thus far in the tournament. Ever since his half-century against Mumbai Indians, the stalwart has found himself in the combination regularly and has also proved the selectors right.

Though Ambati Rayudu managed to score just 23 off the 17 deliveries that he faced, he steered the ship for CSK in the middle overs. His cameo proved to be beneficial for the team as combined efforts from the middle-order batters helped CSK get to a defendable total.

Shivam Dube has been a bankable name in the team. His six-hitting skill has worked brilliantly for CSK this year. The franchise has experimented a bit with his batting position, and he has managed to do well in the top order at three, as well as in the middle order.

All-rounders: Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk)

Moeen Ali’s struggle at the IPL 2023 continues. Ever since registering magnificent figures of 4/26 in the game against the Lucknow Super Giants, Ali has managed to pick only five wickets in nine games that he has bowled in. With the bat, he has not managed to strike at the required rate and hence will be gunning to make a comeback.

Ravindra Jadeja has been fulfilling the role of an all-rounder to perfection. The 34-year-old has struck whenever the team has needed him to get the crucial wickets, and has also been a key contributor with the bat in the lower-middle order. He was adjudged the Player of the Match in the most recent game against DC and would be looking to put up a similar show.

MS Dhoni has been the true leader of the side. Even with injury issues, the legendary wicketkeeper-batter has put up some terrific cameos down the order. In the death overs, the 41-year-old has managed to come out all guns blazing, has hit the big shots, and added runs in hefty to the team’s scoreboard throughout the tournament.

Bowlers: Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana

After sitting out for a few matches due to an injury, pacer Deepak Chahar returned to the playing eleven during the reverse fixture against Mumbai Indians. He managed to pick two wickets in that game, and followed it up with two more scalps in his next game against Delhi. Chahar is back to being his own self and has been providing breakthroughs in the powerplay.

Tushar Deshpande’s transformation has been witnessed by one and all. His start to this year’s campaign wasn’t ideal as he ended up conceding plenty of runs, but has now emerged as a wicket-taking bowler for the side. CSK’s pace attack looks incomplete without Deshpande and hence, he will look to be among the wickets this time again.

Maheesh Theekshana will be expected to maintain line and length and pick up wickets whenever necessary. But the team will majorly rely on Matheesha Pathirana, who will be a part of the XI if the team bowls first, or will replace one of the players in the second innings if the team bats first. The youngster has picked up nine wickets in the previous four games, and has finished with three-wicket hauls in the recent two matches. Hence, he’ll be the one to lookout for.

CSK’s Probable Playing XI:

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana