IPL 2022: Match 7 - Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Predicted Playing XI against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will face off against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on March 31, 2022, at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. Both the teams started off their respective campaigns with a loss. While CSK lost against the Kolkata Knight Riders, Gujarat Titans got to victory in a thrilling encounter against LSG. The defending champions will now be eyeing a victory to get ahead on the points table.

CSK’s start to their first game was poor, and it was MS Dhoni who anchored the innings towards the end with his unbeaten knock of 50*. Robin Uthappa and Ambati Rayudu also played some good shots, but their efforts were just not enough to take their team towards a defendable score. They ended up scoring mere 131 runs and made it an easy win for the KKR.

Predicted Playing XI for Chennai Super Kings for their clash against Lucknow Super Giants

Openers: Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway

Ruturaj Gaikwad has been backed by the team since his 2020 season. The opener was dismissed for a four-ball duck in the first game, but it is known that he would come back stronger, just like he has been doing for the past two seasons, and thus will open for his team.

Devon Conway was also dismissed early in the first game and scored a mere 3 runs off 8 balls. But the New Zealand player has been in good form in the T20Is since 2020, as his average counts to 62.4 in his past 20 innings, at a strike rate of 132.

Middle-order: Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu

Moeen Ali was retained by CSK before the auction for INR 8 crore and had played a crucial role in the team’s victory last season. He missed the first game for his team due to visa clearance issues but will be back for the second one. Though he’s a good fit at any position placed in, he will be seen at the number three spot, like usual. His off-spin bowling will come in handy for the team.

Robin Uthappa steered the game for CSK in their opening battle against KKR and gave some hopes for the team to put in a big total. Though his innings ended early, courtesy of a lightning-fast stumping by Sheldon Jackson, he remains a valuable player in the middle order.

Ambati Rayudu has been one of the core players that CSK has had over the past few years. He has been with the side in their past two victories and his knocks have anchored the team towards victory many times. He will continue to display a similar performance.

All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Dwayne Bravo

Ravindra Jadeja, the captain of the side, can steer the game with his all-around performance. Apart from the leadership role, he will be contributing equally with the bat and the ball. He has grown as an all-rounder recently and his stellar performances will be worth watching.

MS Dhoni will keep wickets for the team, as usual, and also guide Jadeja in his new assignment. At any time in the match, Jadeja will turn to Thala Dhoni for his guidance, and thus his presence is a must on the field. In the first game, he was the top-scorer of the match, making a comeback to his batting form with a 50*.

Dwayne Bravo, the Caribbean star, picked up three crucial wickets in the first game, and as a reason, KKR took a long time to chase down the score. He kept giving his team the required breakthroughs. He was retained by the team during the auction and has been backed by the team management.

Bowlers: Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Adam Milne, Tushar Deshpande

Rajvardhan Hangargekar displayed brilliant form during his U-19 stint with Team India, and his abilities as a seam bowler and a hard-hitter in time of need, are known to everyone. The 19-year-old is a bowling all-rounder and will contribute to the team with both bat and ball. IPL 2022 is his first-ever stint in franchise cricket.

Adam Milne will be given charge of leading the pace attack in the absence of Deepak Chahar. He will be expected to step into his shoes and give the team the breakthroughs in the powerplay. Tushar Deshpande is capable of swinging the ball as well as seaming it. He can help his team pick some crucial wickets with his bowling prowess. He opened the bowling for CSK in the first game, and is likely to continue to do so in this match, too.