IPL 2021: Match 27 MI vs CSK Preview, Playing XI, Live Streaming Details & Updates

Unarguably the biggest rivalry in the history of the IPL: the Chennai Super Kings versus the Mumbai Indians. A contest as mouth-watering as any ever gets. To take a cue from the recent happenings, Mumbai does not look at their challenging best to stop the unstoppable Super Kings, who have ticked all the boxes and have put up a clinical display, winning five on the bounce.

Meanwhile, concerns have been in plenty for the Mumbai Indians, who are fresh after snapping a two-match steak of losses courtesy of their seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals. After ending the first leg of the tournament with more losses than wins, they must be pleased by the effort Quinton de Kock, Krunal Pandya, and bowlers put in to take them home and give a winning start to the Delhi leg.

Mumbai has struggled in the powerplays with their opening partnerships not laying any solid platform. They have been forced to drop a middle-order mainstay Ishan Kishan after five failed outings, and even as Krunal Pandya played a handy knock against Royals, the team is yet to generate any result even close to what is expected from a middle-order of that kind.

Against the Royals was the first instance in IPL 2021 that Mumbai batted second and the first time when they crossed 160. Doing that meant their death-over batting remained untested at the venue after they struggled horrendously in Chennai in that phase despite names like Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard in the lineup.

Their arch-rivals have been at their dominating best, dishing out one brilliant performance after another and ruling the roost in the points table. The question was never on their merit or ability, but on how much would an aging side manage to compete in a tournament as cruelly competitive. CSK has shown that they might be old, but far from over.

Their newest purchase, Moeen Ali, has been a revelation, contributing both with the bat and the ball. Openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis have given flying starts: 115, 74, 129 being the last three. Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu have solidified the middle-order, and Ravindra Jadeja has shown that he can win matches all by himself, let alone 10 members alongside.

The Super Kings have bagged 14 powerplay wickets, the most this season and nearly five times as Mumbai (3). In short, there is no area where they have failed to impress, including MI’s bugbear in 2021 – death over batting.

This has been the weakest Mumbai Indians have ever looked but despite that, an odd performance from Rohit Sharma, consistent ones from Rahul Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, and Trent Boult, and one from de Kock and Pandya recently has been for the taking. Despite being far from their best, they find themselves fourth on the table. Regardless of where they are, they can never be written off.

Pitch and conditions

There has been an eerie similarity in the two games at the venue thus far. Twice has the batting team scored 171; twice the target has been chased with 7 wickets in hands. Need more? Both the times with 9 balls remaining. MS Dhoni mentioned “a lot of dew” setting in during CSK’s practice session, while there was some indeed for CSK to take advantage of against SRH. A better plan, therefore, will be to chase.

Playing combinations for MI vs CSK

Mumbai Indians

Quinton de Kock getting amongst the runs is one reason for MI to feel satisfied. They swapped Ishan Kishan with pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile, and he is expected to hold his spot.

Predicted XI: Quinton de Kock (WK), Rohit Sharma (C), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Jayant Yadav

Chennai Super Kings

CSK brought in Lungi Ngidi and Moeen Ali for Dwayne Bravo and Imran Tahir, and it is unlikely for them to change the combination.

Predicted XI: Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (C & WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi

MI vs CSK Head to Head

Played – 30 | Mumbai Indians – 18 | Chennai Super Kings – 12

MI vs CSK Broadcast Details

Match Timings – 7:30 PM IST

TV – Star Sports Network

Live Streaming – Disney+Hotstar