CSK Predicted Playing 11 vs LSG for Match 39 of IPL 2024

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will face off against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 39 of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday, April 23.

The Men in Yellow are on the back of a comprehensive defeat to the Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium but will hope that a return to their home turf, where they are unbeaten in IPL 2024, will get them back to winning ways. They need to win if they are to maintain their position in the top four of the points table.

Chennai have made an uncharacteristically high number of changes this year, largely due to injuries and other player unavailabilities. However, having settled on a combination, they might not be inclined to make too many tweaks.

CSK's squad for IPL 2024: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ajay Mandal, Nishant Sindhu, Mitchell Santner, Maheesh Theekshana, Prashant Solanki, Deepak Chahar, Matheesha Pathirana, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mukesh Choudhary, Tushar Deshpande, Simarjeet Singh, Shaik Rasheed, Daryl Mitchell, Sameer Rizvi, Mustafizur Rahman, Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, Aravelly Avanish Rao, Richard Gleeson.

Here's CSK's predicted playing XII (including an impact sub) for Match 39 of IPL 2024 against LSG.

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Openers: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c) and Rachin Ravindra

Ajinkya Rahane has opened the batting in the last two matches, but reports suggest that he has recovered from the calf strain that forced him to be subbed out. He could thus return to No. 3 and pave the way for Ruturaj Gaikwad to open the batting alongside Rachin Ravindra, who is in desperate need of runs.

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Middle order: Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Sameer Rizvi, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk)

CSK are expected to persist with the same middle order against LSG at Chepauk. Sameer Rizvi is bound to be given a longer rope, and not much needs to be said about the other names in the fold.

Replacing Daryl Mitchell with Moeen Ali seems to be a smart move, and Chennai will do well to give the Englishman a more prominent role with the ball. If a turning track is on offer, Moeen will be the home side's primary weapon against Quinton de Kock.

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Lower order: Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mustafizur Rahman, Matheesha Pathirana

CSK have picked up only seven powerplay wickets in IPL 2024, and Deepak Chahar's lack of form has contributed heavily to that. The swing bowler has a poor head-to-head record against the LSG openers, and the Super Kings have Shardul Thakur and Mukesh Choudhary as options on the bench.

However, Chennai are rarely trigger-happy, and Chahar could be in line to continue alongside Matheesha Pathirana, Tushar Deshpande, and Mustafizur Rahman in the pace department.

Maheesh Theekshana could replace Mustafizur if the track is an outright turner. But batting coach Mike Hussey recently expressed satisfaction at the Bangladesh bowler's performances, and Theekshana might have to wait a bit longer.

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CSK's predicted playing XII (inc. impact sub): Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Rachin Ravindra, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Sameer Rizvi, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mustafizur Rahman, Matheesha Pathirana.

Other impact sub candidates: Shaik Rasheed, Mukesh Choudhary, Shardul Thakur.