Chennai: Both the five time winners and reigning Champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and last year's finalist Gujarat Titans (GT) are being led by new young skippers in Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shubman Gill.
As captains, both of them would not have asked for a better start for their IPL 2024 campaign and more importantly for their leadership qualities.
A keen contest is on the cards when the two flamboyant and fearless openers walks into the middle for the toss at the historic M.A.Chidambaram Stadium, when home favourites CSK and GT comes face to face in an all important clash on Tuesday.
Both the teams were fresh from their wins in their opening encounter. But the victrories were quite contrast.
CSK romped home rather easily by six wickets against RCB in the tournament's opener on Friday last here, after Ruturaj, who was handed over the baton after iconic skipper M S Dhoni stepped down on the eve of the contest, marshalled his bowling resources well before the batsmen did their job.
GT, despite scoring a below par total against Mumbai Indians--also five time champions--at Ahmedabad yesterday, on the other hand, held its nerves, to eke out a tense six run win, with the bowlers rising to the occasion in the closing stages of a nerve-wracking contest watched by more than 80,000 spectators.
Both the teams will take a lot of positives from the first matches. CSK will be keen to retain the same XI for the match and would once again rely on left arm speedster Bangladeshi import Mustafizur Rahman, who wrecked the RCB top order with four wickets, before other bowlers played their part well.
However, the area of concern for CSK would be the performance of speedster Tushar Deshpande, who conceded 47 runs in his four overs against RCB.
They will once again look up to their skipper and Rachin Ravindra to provide the initial flourish with the willow, with Ajinkya Rahane, Darryl Mitchell and south paw Shivam Dube, who has learnt the art of finishing matches, providing the much needed stability in the batting order.
CSK has the resources to bat deep considering that all rounder Ravindra Jadeja and the talismanic Dhoni has loads of experience and know the home conditions by the back of their palm.
Apart from Mustafizur and Deepak Chahar, who can use his long handles well, in the pace department, the team has good spinners like Maheesh Theekshana to play the supporting role for Jadeja.
CSK could also try out Rachin Ravindra as one of the spin options if the need arise.
On the other hand, GT will be looking forward for an improved showing with the bat, though the bowlers did a fantastic job.
As usual, Gill and keeper Wridhaman Saha lends solidity at the top, and the middle order has the likes of Azmatullah Omarzai and big hitters David Miller and Rahul Tewatia, not to underestimate local lad Sai Sudarshan, who held the innings together against Mumbai Indians yesterday night and other Chennai cricketers Vijay Shankar and Shahrukh Khan.
It remains to be seen whether experienced New zealander Kane Williamson will be drafted into the playing XI to add more strength to the batting.
He will be playing in front of his home crowd on Tuesday and left arm spinner Sai Kishore in all probability will be the impact player, with the experienced Rashid Khan expected to chip in with good performances considering that the Chepauk pitch might aid the slow bowlers, though it had enough carry and bounce in the last match against RCB.
If the pitch offers some assistance for the pacers, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Omarzai will be fancying their chances.
