MI starts favourite in blockbuster clash against Super Kings

MI looks the most prepared and set team with a scary batting line-up of Rohit, Quinton de Kock, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik and Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard. Trent Boult and Nathan Coulter-Nile will complete its quota of foreigners. For CSK, the core has remained the same save for Suresh Raina, who was its worst performer last year and has pulled out citing personal reasons this year. His replacement Ruturaj Gaikwad remains in quarantine having tested COVID-19 positive multiple times. But there is Watson, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Bravo, who have all won matches from hopeless situations. Mitchell Santner and Lungi Ngidi will complete its four-foreigner line-up in case Sam Curran and Josh Hazlewood are unavailable. In case Curran is allowed to travel to Abu Dhabi, he could well be the pinch hitter at the top of the order. CSK can only be ignored at one’s own peril.