The IPL 2021-phase 2 is all set to kickstart in the hot and humid conditions of the UAE. Chennai Super Kings will take on Mumbai Indians in the tournament’s first match of UAE leg. It is going to be an epic rematch as MI had earlier pulled off a heist against CSK at Delhi.  MI won a one-sided IPL last year in UAE while CSK struggled to get going. But this season, CSK have turned around their fortunes. MI haven’t exactly set the stage on fire but are slowly getting there. It will be interesting to see how these sides progress in UAE conditions. Here is all about CSK vs MI Match Predictions.

MI’s engine room is slowly getting heated:

Mumbai Indians played their first 5 games at the Chepauk, Chennai. They seem to have mastered the art of playing on these slow low wickets. MI ran RCB close in their opening game and then went on to defeat KKR and SRH. The defending champions had notched up 4 points without even playing their best cricket. They went on to lose a close game against DC. 

The defeat to DC felt like an aberration but PK defeated them convincingly and the gaps started getting wider in MI’s arsenal. Their batting apart from Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav has failed to click. Rahul Chahar has been their standout bowler but their bowling too in general has lacked discipline. MI will be keen to iron out all their flaws going into the 2nd phase of the league. The conditions at Delhi surprisingly aided stroke-making and this helped MI. They cruised to a 7-wicket win over RR. MI went one better against CSK in their last league game in the first half. They are back to the familiar conditions of Abu Dhabi. MI start favourites in the game.

Will CSK’s 2.0 version shine even in UAE?

CSK began the tournament on a slightly slippery note. They posted a good total against DC but failed to defend that. CSK came back strongly in the 2nd game and blew away PK. They picked up crucial wickets in the powerplay to dent PK’s innings. CSK put a dominant performance in the game against RR. They comfortably won against them and stormed to the 2nd spot in the points table. CSK boast of having the best Net Run Rate among teams currently. Their experienced outfit has mastered the conditions at Mumbai smartly. 

CSK are one of the most balanced teams in the IPL. They are on a roll and even a spirited KKR fightback couldn’t stop them from winning. CSK demolished RCB in their last game at the Wankhede. The men in yellow went on to defeat SRH convincingly. They are the table-toppers before the match against MI and looked unstoppable. But MI pulled off a famous heist against them. CSK will be baying for revenge in the rematch. This match might even reveal which team will dominate in UAE.

CSK vs MI Match Predictions: Favourites?

The addition of Moeen Ali has spurred CSK. He has addressed CSK’s Achilles heel of dominating the middle overs. The openers have been in good touch too with Ambati Rayudu and Ravindra Jadeja providing the finishing touches. CSK will want more from its bowlers in UAE. Their depth gives them an edge over every other team. They will be keen to settle scores with MI in the rematch.

MI ended their India campaign with an epic win over CSK. They went on to score 130+ runs in the last 10 overs of the chase to notch up a special win. MI will be looking to field two overseas pacers in the form of Adam Milne and Trent Boult. Their pacers were on fire the last time they won the tournament here. They will surely be hoping for an encore. MI start marginal favourites in this rivalry.

Which players will be match-winners in this game?

Ambati Rayudu scored a blistering knock the last time these two teams met. He has a good track record against MI. Expect Rayudu to come good again.

Rohit Sharma is coming off a brilliant season for India. He can turn the tables pretty quickly in the T20 format too.

X-factor player:

Moeen Ali was in red hot form for CSK in the first phase of IPL 2021. He will be key to CSK’s chances in UAE too.

Kieron Pollard always finds extra gear while playing against CSK. He will be pumped up to excel against familiar foes.

CSK vs MI Match Predictions – Probable Playing XI:

Chennai Super Kings predicted XI:

Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Shardul Thakur, Dwayne Bravo/Imran Tahir, Deepak Chahar

Mumbai Indians predicted XI:

Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Adam Milne, Trent Boult, Rahul Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah

What do stats say about CSK vs MI?

CSK and MI have played 31 IPL games against each other.

CSK has won 12 games. MI has won 19 matches. 

In the UAE, CSK has won 2, MI has won 1.

CSK’s highest score against MI is 218. MI’s highest score against CSK is 219. 

MI’s lowest score against CSK is 79. CSK’s lowest score against MI is 141.

Pitch:

The Dubai pitch does offer a bit for everyone. The batsmen can trust the true bounce. There will be swing early on. Spinners will enjoy the long boundaries. 

Weather Report:

A high of 41 degrees and a low of 30 degrees is expected. There are no chances of rain. Dew might not play that big a factor here. Teams might prefer chasing so as to assess the conditions.

Ground stats:

A total of 61 matches has been played at this venue. Teams batting first have won 34 games while chasing teams have won 26. The average scoring batting first at this venue is 144. On the other hand, the average 2nd innings score is a paltry 122. Anything above 160 will be a par score.

StumpsandBails verdict:

The giants of the IPL will restart the proceedings in UAE. Expect them to land huge blows. MI hold a slight ace in the contest.

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