Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab, Abu Dhabi
Pro Tip: Expect KL Rahul and Chris Gayle to step it up given it is a must-win game for the Kings XI.
Our XI: KL Rahul, Nicholas Pooran, Chris Gayle, Ambati Rayudu, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Shane Watson, Sam Curran, Ravi Bishnoi, Chris Jordan, Deepak Chahar.
Substitutes: Mayank Agarwal, Mohammed Shami, MS Dhoni, M Ashwin
Player availability: There has been no official update on Mayank Agarwal's fitness status yet, but all other players are available for selection.
NOTE: We might not always be able to tip you off about late injury (or other relevant) updates, so please finalise your team after the toss.
Captain: Chris Gayle
Gayle has had a tremendous impact since his entry into the XI. He has scored 276 runs in the six innings so far at a strike rate of 140.5. He has scored three fifties along the way, including 99 in the last game against the Rajasthan Royals. With at least one legspinner and one left-arm spinner in the Chennai Super Kings ranks, Gayle should have a good time again.
Vice-captain: KL Rahul
The leading run-getter in the tournament with 641 runs at a strike rate of 130.54, Rahul has now gone four innings without a fifty. He found some touch with 46 against the Royals, though, and can be expected to fire against the Super Kings - he scored 63 the last time these two teams locked horns.
Hot Picks
Ambati Rayudu: Rayudu has scored 30-plus in seven out of the ten innings he has played this season. He has the ability to rotate the strike as well as take the attack to the opposition in any phase of the game. Since 2018 in the IPL, he has a strike rate of 122.76 in the powerplay and 126.96 in the middle overs. His boundary percentage in the middle overs is an impressive 54.83.
Shane Watson: Watson has been a bit up and down, he has got a few starts but hasn't made it big often. After a series of low scores, Watson came back to form in the game against the same opponents, when he scored his best of the season, an unbeaten 83 in 53 balls.
Chris Jordan: Jordan has been excellent for the Kings XI ever since he got back into the team. All his eight wickets in the tournament have come in the last five games, after the comeback that is, at an economy of 7.88. In the last five games, Jordan has been really good at the death, picking up five wickets at a strike rate of 9 and an economy of 9.46 in the phase.
Differential Picks
Ruturaj Gaikwad: Gaikwad has scored back-to-back fifties and is looking good for more. He times the ball as well as anyone we have seen in this super Kings line-up, and Gaikwad also looks to go deep into the innings, which means more points.
Ravi Bishnoi: Bishnoi has picked up 12 wickets so far this season at an impressive economy of 7.17. In the middle overs, the Super Kings this season have scored at a strike rate of 114.87 against spin and have lost 16 wickets. In the same phase, Bishnoi has picked up 11 wickets and has an economy of 6.9.
Alternate Scenarios
Jordan, with his changes of pace, could be more effective in Abu Dhabi, which has big boundaries, so we have gone with him. Mohammed Shami is an alternative.
If Agarwal comes back in, swap him with Ravindra Jadeja, as Jadeja may not get to bowl given Nicholas Pooran and Gayle will be batting in the middle overs.