The first match of the Indian Premier League featuring Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT) was filled with excitement, as Gujarat, the defending champions, started their campaign with a well-executed triumph.
CSK were asked to bat first but struggled to keep their batsmen at the crease, with only Ruturaj Gaikwad putting up a strong fight against Gujarat’s bowling attack. He played a remarkable innings, scoring 92 runs, while the next highest scorer was Moeen Ali with only 23 runs. Thanks to Ruturaj’s impressive performance, Chennai managed to set a target of 178/7 in their first innings. However, Gujarat’s batting line-up made contributions from almost every player, enabling them to chase down the target in the final over and win the match in 19.2 overs, marking a great start to their campaign.
Improve the bowling attack with Dwaine Pretorius
CSK’s defeat in their opening game against Gujarat Titans was primarily due to their inexperienced bowling attack, lacking a quality and seasoned pacer. In order to rectify this issue and find the right combination, they may need to replace Devon Conway with Dwaine Pretorius, a specialist death bowler and all-rounder from South Africa. Additionally, given the Chepauk wicket’s tendency to offer turn and bounce, the Kiwi batter, who is not known for being a proficient player of spin, may struggle. The inclusion of a tall all-rounder like Pretorius could enhance the team’s line-up.
Make changes in middle-order
CSK captain MS Dhoni attributed their loss to defending champions Gujarat Titans in the opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 in Ahmedabad to their middle overs batting. While opener Ruturaj Gaikwad played an outstanding innings, scoring 92 runs off 50 balls, the rest of the team failed to contribute significantly, with the second-highest score of only 23 by Moeen Ali. Despite looking set for a total of 200-plus, Chennai could only manage to post 178/7.
Ajinkya Rahane for Shivam Dube
For their second game against Lucknow Super Giants, CSK may consider replacing Shivam Dube with Ajinkya Rahane, who seemed uncertain in the team’s first game against Gujarat Titans. In addition, Rahane’s proficiency in playing spin could prove advantageous on the Chepauk pitch. The right-handed batsman could stabilize the batting order and, if Conway is replaced, could also open the batting for the team. With Rahane’s experience, Ruturaj Gaikwad could play more freely and take advantage of the first six overs’ field restrictions.
