Probable XI –
Chennai Super Kings –
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina/Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Josh Hazlewood, Deepak Chahar
Punjab Kings –
Lokesh Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Deepak Hooda/Sarfaraz Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Moises Henriques, Harpreet Brar, Mohammad Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh
Small League Combination 1 –
1. Lokesh Rahul(VC)
2. Robin Uthappa
3. Faf Du Plessis
4. Ruturaj Gaikwad(C)
5. Aiden Markram
6. Moeen Ali
7. Ravindra Jadeja
8. Moises Henriques
9. Shardul Thakur
10. Josh Hazlewood
11. Mohammad Shami
– Going heavy on Chennai as they’re looking strong enough to win this encounter.
– Ruturaj Gaikwad and Lokesh Rahul are in blistering forms which makes them safest C/VC choices.
– Robin Uthappa might be a decent credit saver pick as he’s expected to bat at two down.
– Can take Dwayne Bravo at the place of Moeen Ali especially if Chennai bowls first.
– Pacers will be crucial as they have taken maximum number of wickets at this venue.
– Moises Henriques and Aiden Markram are crucial picks as they’re getting to bowl a couple of overs.
Small League Combination 2 –
1. Lokesh Rahul
2. Faf Du Plessis(C)
3. Ruturaj Gaikwad
4. Ambati Rayudu
5. Mayank Agarwal(VC)
6. Sarfaraz Khan
7. Moises Henriques
8. Dwayne Bravo
9. Deepak Chahar
10. Shardul Thakur
11. Mohammad Shami
– Faf Du Plessis and Mayank Agarwal are other safe C/VC choices as they have been consistent so far with the bat.
– Ambati Rayudu has good numbers at venue and H2H matches which makes him a good pick especially if a couple of top order batters depart early.
– Sarfaraz Khan has averaged above 30 in 5 innings against the opponent which makes him a decent credit saver pick.
– Expecting atleast a couple of wickets from both Thakur and Bravo as they haven’t went wicketless in H2H matches.
– Deepak Chahar might stay amongst the wickets in this game after going wicketless in last two matches.
Grand League Combination –
1. MS Dhoni
2. Lokesh Rahul
3. Faf Du Plessis
4. Mayank Agarwal
5. Sarfaraz Khan
6. Ravindra Jadeja(C)
7. Moises Henriques
8. Dwayne Bravo
9. Mohammad Shami
10. Arshdeep Singh
11. Shardul Thakur(VC)
– Going with a balanced combination as Punjab might give a tough competition to the opponent.
– Ravindra Jadeja looks an open captain choice in GL as he will be crucial with the bat if top order doesn’t do well and also bowling full overs
– Thakur has taken atleast two wickets per matches in last 5 H2H innings which makes him a good VC choice.
– MS Dhoni has always loved to score against Punjab which makes him a decent GL pick.
– Can take anyone from Faf Du Plessis or Ruturaj Gaikwad as both have done well so far in this season.