Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT) played each other in the first match of the league stages of the IPL 2023 on March 31. They will also play each other in the first match of the playoff stages. In Qualifier 1, reigning champions GT face four-time winners CSK, led by MS Dhoni. The winner goes on to the IPL 2023 Final.
Everyone will be wondering what the expected “playing XI” will be for the season’s top two teams in this very important game. CSK, which is run by Dhoni, will miss Ben Stokes, but it looks like they are set for foreign players. Stokes was hurt for most of the IPL 2023 season, so he only played in a few games for CSK.
Since Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana, two Sri Lankans, joined CSK this year, Dhoni has kept the same “playing 12” for 9 of the 14 matches. CSK won’t make too many changes to this team, which is likely to have three spinners: Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, and Theekshana.
On the other hand, GT hasn’t done as well because their captain, Hardik Pandya, hasn’t bowled in their last three games. Last season, Pandya was very good at bowling, especially in the IPL 2022 final against the Rajasthan Royals.
GT is likely to choose Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka over Alzarri Joseph to fill Hardik’s spot. Dasun Shanaka will not only give the team more batting choices, but he will also be able to bowl. Hardik could also get help from Rahul Tewatia, giving him more ways to spin throw.
The rest of GT’s batting order is likely to stay the same as in their last league match, when they beat Royal Challengers Bangalore. With back-to-back hundreds in the league, opener Shubman Gill has been in great shape. All-rounder Vijay Shankar is also having a great season.
Predicted XI for CSK vs. GT IPL 2023 Qualifier:
Chennai Super Kings: Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c and wk), Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Desphande, Matheesha Pathirana.
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Hardik Pandya (c), Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Dasun Shanaka, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Noor Ahmad, Mohit Sharma
