The 39th match of the IPL 2024 (Indian Premier League) will witness Chennai Super Kings (CSK) locking horns with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, on Tuesday, April 23. A big reason for CSK’s stellar record over the years has been their dominance at home. Continuing that trend, they have won all three home games so far in IPL 2024. However, they have had just one win in four away games, which makes it even more important for them to win at home.
Fortunately, starting Tuesday, CSK will get three successive games at Chepauk. If they can win all three, they will have one foot in the playoffs. Their biggest challenge, arguably, will come in the first of those games against LSG. Chepauk can produce a slow, spinning surface when needed, like for the game against KKR, but LSG have experience of such pitches at their home ground in Lucknow. Moreover, LSG will carry the confidence of beating CSK as recently as Friday, in the previous game for both sides.
CSK vs LSG Previous performances
CSK will aim to bounce back after their recent defeat against the same opponents in their last game in Lucknow on April 19. The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side lost the game by eight wickets, all thanks to an all-round performance from the home team. CSK posted 176/6 after their 20 overs. Ravindra Jadeja scored a 40-ball 57, including five boundaries and one six while MS Dhoni and Moeen Ali gave the late flourish. However the team was still 20 runs short on that wicket.
LSG chased down the target with ease courtesy of KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock who guided the team to their fourth win of the season. Though LSG are coming off a win, they will need to bring their A-game to the field to defeat CSK at their fortress Chepauk.
CSK vs LSG Head to Head
| Matches Played | 04 |
| Chennai Super Kings won | 01 |
| Lucknow Super Giants Won | 02 |
| No Result | 01 |
CSK vs LSG Pitch Report
The pitch at Chepauk favors both spinners and pacers who can utilize variations in their bowling. Batters will find it challenging to score runs freely due to the relatively low bounce off the pitch. The team that wins the toss will look to bowl first. The conditions in Chepauk have been on expected lines with both spinners and the pacers with variations making impact in the three games played here so far in the season. Under hot and humid conditions that prevail in the city, the pitch is unlikely to change in character.
In three games at Chepauk so far, three different types of totals have been posted by teams batting first: 173 for 6 by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (lost), 206 for 6 by CSK (won) and 137 for 9 by Kolkata Knight Riders (lost). While a lot depends on how the pitch plays on the given day, both CSK and LSG will aim for a total of around 200
Team news and impact player strategy
Chennai Super Kings
Ajinkya Rahane has recovered from the calf niggle and could move down the order after opening the innings in the previous two games. This could also mean that Shivam Dube once again plays as an Impact Player if CSK bowl first. If they bat first, Matheesha Pathirana could perform that role.
CSK vs LSG : In the spotlight
Vital Stats that matters
- Rahul vs Deepak Chahar has been a one-sided contest. Rahul has smashed Chahar for 157 runs off 96 balls without getting out even once.
- Nicholas Pooran has done something similar against Mustafizur Rahman: 88 runs off 45 balls, one dismissal.
- Moeen Ali has scored 33 runs off 22 balls (strike rate 150.00) against Ravi Bishnoi but has got out to him three times.
- Krunal Pandya has been able to keep Jadeja (24 off 22, two dismissals) and Dhoni (17 off 24, no dismissal) quiet. Ruturaj Gaikwad, though, has smashed him for 22 off 12 without any dismissal.
- Dube has a strike rate of 157.14 against Bishnoi – 33 runs off 21 with one dismissal.
CSK vs LSG Probable Playing XIs
Chennai Super Kings (CSK):
Ajinkya Rahane, Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali, Sameer Rizvi, MS Dhoni (WK), Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mustafizur Rahman
Impact Player : Matheesha Pathirana
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG):
Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul (c & wk.), Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Matt Henry, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Yash Thakur
Impact Player – Krishnappa Gowtham
CSK vs LSG Fantasy Playing XI : Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, MS Dhoni (WK), Matheesha Pathirana, Mohsin Khan
CSK VS LSG Probable Best Players of the Match
Probable Best Batter: KL Rahul
KL Rahul holds the key for the Lucknow Super Giants in the batting department. Coming in as an opener he can build a strong foundation and take them to a big total. Rahul has been scoring runs for his side consistently and has given some solid starts alongside de Kock. In seven matches, he has scored 286 runs. In their last game against the same opposition, he scored 82 runs to guide his team to a brilliant eight-wicket victory.
Probable Best Bowler: Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja is the best spinner for the Chennai-based franchise. He can take crucial wickets in the middle and put his team in the driving seat with his bowling. The left-arm spinner has not had the best of seasons with only four wickets in seven matches. However, with the Chennai pitch supporting spinners, Jadeja will be determined to use it to his advantage.
CSK vs LSG Match Prediction
Scenario 1
Chennai Super Kings win the toss and bowl
Power Play score – 60-70
First Innings Score – 200-210
Chennai Super Kings win the match
Scenario 2
Lucknow Super Giants win the toss and bowl
Power Play score – 70-80
First Innings Score – 210-220
Chennai Super Kings win the match