IPL 2022 PBKS vs CSK, 38th Match Preview: Playoff hopes still alive, CSK look to build momentum

It does not need an expert to reveal that with just two wins from seven matches, Chennai Super Kings are merely hanging on by a thread.

Live Scores and Stats - IPL 2022 PBKS vs CSK, 38th Match

It's the hope that kills

A three-wicket victory on the last ball of their encounter against Mumbai Indians gives CSK hope. If they can succeed in winning all their remaining matches or at least 6 of the remaining 7, they still stand a chance of making it to the playoffs.

As unrealistic as it might sound, cricket can be a funny sport and if Chennai Super Kings succeed in gaining some momentum, they might get on a roll. And, unlike Mumbai Indians, who just don't have the squad this time around to make amends, Chennai Super Kings have enough in there to turn it around.

 

Rayudu, Uthappa contribute

Ruturaj Gaikwad has succeeded in just one innings in the season till now but Robin Uthappa has been delivering consistently. If the opening partnership comes together for Chennai, things can begin to look different.

Ambati Rayudu and Shivam Dube have been contributing as well. Ravindra Jadeja would like to be a little more authoritative out in the middle. He can take some inspiration from MS Dhoni who has succeeded more often than he has failed in IPL 2022 with a couple of knocks that rolled back the years.

 

CSK's bowling coming together

Dwaine Pretorius has been a good addition to the Chennai Super Kings XI and they are better off playing him than Chris Jordan.

With Mukesh Choudhary gradually assuming the role of Deepak Chahar and Sri Lankan mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana troubling the opposition batters, pieces are beginning to fall in place for Chennai.

Punjab's high risk-high reward strategy

They will face Punjab Kings who started off on a brilliant note but have lost all their momentum with back to back defeats.

For a team which likes to play an explosive brand of cricket, they cannot have Kagiso Rabada coming into bat at number 7 as was the case in the last match.

Punjab will need to have a look at the balance of their XI. The team must consider bringing in all-rounders Benny Howell and Rishi Dhawan.

Predicted Playing XIs

Chennai Super Kings - Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Dwaine Pretorius, Dwayne Bravo, Mitchell Santner, Maheesh Theekshana, Mukesh Choudhary

Punjab Kings - Mayank Agarwal (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow/Bhanuka Rajapaksa/Benny Howell, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Vaibhav Arora/Rishi Dhawan, Arshdeep Singh

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