Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians IPL Tips: CSK should be favourites in MI clash

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Saturday 2 May,15:00
TV: Sky Sports

Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians IPL team news

Chennai Super Kings have six games left and may have to win five of them to make the play-offs. They looked capable of mounting a challenge before a desperately disappointing defeat by Gujarat.

Batting first they were in trouble early on at from 37 for four and they probably did quite well to reach 158. But that is a total which would have been competitive only 10 years ago.

Urvil Patel was drafted in to bat No 3 with Ayush Mhatre out for the season. Urvil will face pressure from Sarfaraz Khan for the spot.

Possible XI: Samson, Gaikwad, Urvil (sub Choudhary), Brevis, Dube, Kartik, Overton, Akeal, Noor, Anshul, G Singh

Mumbai Indians had used the most players of any team prior to their defeat by Sunrisers. So they added another couple for good measure to take their total to 22 with Will Jacks and Robin Minz's inclusions.

Jacks and Ryan Rickleton got MI off to a roaring start batting first. Rickleton's ton made a target of 243 look ominous. But the MI bowling was dreadful with even Jasprit Bumrah smashed for 13.5 an over.

Trent Boult was back in the team adding to the confusion over selection. At least they won't be able to pick Mitch Santner as he has been ruled out with a shoulder injury. Rohit Sharma failed a fitness test so it is possible that if he passes this time, MI could even break up the Jacks-Rickleton axis.

Despite the impact player rule and batting first, MI had Boult to bat at No 8. They then subbed out Minz for Shardul Thakur who didn't bowl. Chaos.

Possible XI: Jacks, Rickleton, Suryalumar, Dhir, Tilak, Hardik, Minz, Boult, Bumrah, Ghazanfar, Ashwani

Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians IPL pitch report

The Chepauk surface could well be reverting to type. CSK's 158 could be an outlier or the first sign that a square which was also used in the World Cup is starting to take some wear and tear.

Sportsbook go under 190.5 first-innings runs at 5/61.84. However, it might be possible to have the same bet at even money at a slightly higher number on the Exchange. This could well be the time to go against the runs trend.

Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians IPL match prediction

Chennai have already beaten Mumbai this season. Outclassed them, in fact. The 103-run success may prove to be a false dawn for their play-off aspirations but it did highlight the gulf between the rivals in terms or efficiency and common sense.

Most teams trump MI on those factors this season and with more chaos in selection just around the corner for Mumbai, we have to make a strong case to avoid them at a ridiculous odds-on. They are 8/111.73 with Sportsbook and 1.794/5 on the Exchange. the latter means that Chennai are available at 2.206/5 and that is a bet.

Look no further than the table to justify the wager. Mumbai may well finish bottom this season as they seem powerless to stop the slide. A seventh defeat of the campaign from nine is incoming.

Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians player bets

A gamble on this being a bowler-friendly surface by going unders on runs is one option. The other is to try to play the top-bat markets with big-priced middle- to lower-order picks. There are a few interesting characters who fit the bill for this strategy.

The first is Jamie Overton for Chennai. Overton has wins in this market and is a genuine all-rounder. Sportsbook rate him at 16s. Akeal Hosein is another who catches the eye at 35s.

For Mumbai Robin Minz is an option. Minz is a proper middle-order batter with a strong domestic record and strike rate. He is not a 14/115.00 chance on ability or bat order.

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