Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will play Delhi Capitals(DC) in Match 55 of IPL 2022 on 8 May, at Dr D.Y. Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. At the time of writing this, there is uncertainty looming over the match in the aftermath of a member in the Delhi camp testing positive for COVID-19.
Barring a set of miracles, Chennai will not be defending the IPL title that they won last October in Dubai. A poor start to the season meant they were always up against it, and may now be regretting the decision to pass the captaincy from M.S. Dhoni to Ravindra Jadeja. While they could not have foreseen how the pressure of the job would affect Jadeja’s performance, but they could have acted sooner in getting him to relinquish it in favour of Dhoni once more.
Delhi also have a new full-time captain this season, in Rishabh Pant, who has also had a crash course in finding out what it takes to lead an IPL franchise. The fact that he was fined 100% of his match fee for his behaviour during their defeat by the Rajasthan Royals suggests that he still has a lot to learn.
Still, a win in this match can see his team, Delhi, force their way into the Playoffs picture.
It is impossible not to draw Master and Apprentice comparisons, with one great Indian wicketkeeper-batter of the past, Dhoni, being pitted against his modern day counterpart, Pant. It will be fascinating to see who comes out on top.
Both teams had conflicting fortunes in their most recent matches. Chennai went down to Royal Challengers Bangalore by 13 runs, while Delhi beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 21 runs. That match saw David Warner exact a measure of revenge on the franchise that let him go in acrimonious fashion last season. He will be looking to maintain his form into this match.
Indications are that the pitch will be good for batting.
Likely Teams:
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwaine Pretorius, Simarjeet Singh, Mukesh Choudhary, Maheesh Theekshana
Delhi Capitals: David Warner, Mandeep Singh, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Lalit Yadav, Rovman Powell, Ripal Patel, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Khaleel Ahmed
Fantasy Tips:
• In his last match, Warner set a new world record of fifties in T20 cricket. He can extend that to 90 in here;
• Kuldeep is second in the race for the Purple Cap right now, and will want to keep up his momentum and form;
• Uthappa has had a middling year. This may be the chance to show that he is still a very good T20 cricketer.
Prediction:
Chennai are really only playing for pride now, while Delhi still have the prize of a play-off spot at stake. That should be motivation enough for them to win this match.
Streaming
Match 53 between LSG and KKR will start at 19:30 on Saturday, May 7th. You can watch the match on the Star Network and Hotstar.