Today Clash: Struggling CSK Face Soaring LSG in High-Stakes Showdown
Today Clash
Today Clash: CSK has adhered to a strict pattern with minimal opportunity for innovation, but LSG has demonstrated batting versatility and supported up-and-coming Indian prospects.
LSG vs. CSK is a collision of contrasts as the mentor and mentee, both of whom are struggling captains, lead teams at opposing ends of the standings.
Since LSG is on a three-match winning streak and CSK has lost five straight games for the first time in their history, Rishabh Pant has some leeway. After a devastating defeat to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at home two nights ago, all enthusiasm or happiness at MS Dhoni returning to assume the captaincy role seemed to have vanished.(Today Clash)
In contrast, CSK has adhered to a strict formula with limited opportunity for innovation, while LSG has demonstrated batting versatility and supported underappreciated Indian talents like Digvesh Rathi.
Almost more sixes (31) have been hit by Nicholas Pooran alone than by the entire CSK team (32). Mitchell Marsh’s tenacity, Aiden Markram’s comeback, and his tempo at No. 3 have made LSG one of the pacesetters; they score 10.3 in the powerplay compared to CSK’s 7.5, the lowest of the season. Actually, CSK has the worst combined strike rate at 124.23.(Today Clash)
These difficulties were reflected in CSK’s batting strategy in their most recent home match versus KKR. According to data from ESPNcricinfo, they made just 15 efforts to hit a boundary during the innings, which is by far the fewest attempts made by a club since the 2023 Indian Premier League. Additionally, they have attempted the second-lowest number of boundaries this season, 38.3% of balls faced.
Overall, LSG has two excellent wickets in youngster Rathi and Ravi Bishnoi, who found his form again in the last game, whereas CSK has lost the most wickets to spin this season. They’ll have a harder time digging out of the situation they’re in on Monday because of that, but they have to do it or risk being eliminated midway through.
Form Guide : Today Clash
Lucknow Super Giants – (last five matches, most recent first)
Chennai Super Kings
Team news :
According to Pant, Mitchell Marsh missed the last game because his daughter was ill. In his absence, LSG only used three foreign players. He will replace Himmat Singh if he is available.
Pant claims that Mitchell Marsh’s daughter’s illness kept him from the most recent game. LSG only employed three foreign players while he was away. If he is available, he will take Himmat Singh’s spot.
First Aiden Markram, second Mitchell Marsh/Himmat Singh, third Nicholas Pooran, fourth Rishabh Pant (capt, wk), fifth Ayush Badoni, LSG (likely XII) Six David Miller, Seven Abdul Samad, Eight Shardul Thakur, Nine Akash Deep, Ten Ravi Bishnoi, Eleven Avesh Khan, and Twelve Digvesh Rath
As an Impact Player, Matheesha Pathirana is probably going to be considered. CSK’s top order collapse against KKR forced them to call up an extra batsman in Deepak Hooda. Given that he has dismissed Pooran four times in five innings at an average of just 6.3, Pathirana has a favorable matchup against him.(Today Clash)
Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, and Shivam Dube are the potential XII CSK members. 6 Ravindra Jadeja 7 Matheesha Pathirana, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Anshul Kamboj, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Khaleel Ahmed, and 8 MS Dhoni (capt, week)
Rishabh Pant hasn’t had a great season with the bat so far
Highlighted are R Ashwin and Rishabh Pant :
In four innings, Rishabh Pant has scored 40 runs with a strike rate of 80, demonstrating his lack of enthusiasm in the IPL 2025. He hadn’t batted long enough to give the strike rate component much thought until the last game. For the first time since 2016, he opened against GT, however, and fought his way to 21 off 18 before being dismissed by Prasidh Krishna’s slower delivery. Because their other hitters are playing well, Pant’s recent slump hasn’t been a reason for alarm. Against CSK, can he find his gears?
(Today Clash)
After almost ten years apart, R Ashwin’s reunion with CSK hasn’t gone as expected. Only three of the six games have seen him bowl his entire quota, and he hasn’t claimed as many wickets as he would have liked (five). He has conceded at 15 an over and been costly in the powerplay and death. Although he has dismissed Pooran three times in eight innings despite giving up at a strike rate of 93, he has a favorable matchup against him. Despite Noor Ahmad having the most wickets by a spinner (10) in the middle overs this season, CSK may want to utilize him there because he gives up at 7.7.
Pitch and conditions – (Today Clash)
This season, Ekana Stadium’s average score when batting first is 184. Spinners will be used because the ground dimensions are some of the largest in the nation. Since IPL 2024, the chasing team has won six of ten games played here.
Stats and Trivia –
In four of their six powerplay innings this season, LSG has scored 60 runs or more. They have the second-best run rate of 10 against spin.
Since 2024, Pooran’s 67 sixes have been the most in the IPL. Among batters who have scored 100 runs or more this season, his strike rate of 215 is second-best, only surpassed by Priyansh Arya.
After dismissing David Miller three times in six innings, Noor Ahmad has the advantage over him. Miller hits at the age of 54.
This season, LSG’s powerplay economy of 10.8 is the second-worst. However, that was the time when CSK’s bat performance was lacking. Perhaps this is a chance to profit.
This season, Khaleel Ahmed has the second-most dot balls in the powerplay with 66.
