CSK no longer has excuses not to play fearless cricket - CSK vs MI pre-match analysis

With the hopes of playoffs almost bombarded, Chennai Super Kings can play a no-holds-barred game hereafter. Trying different combinations and batting positions will at least inform them where they've failed in their 7 losses out of 10 games.

Instead of harping on losses, the men in yellow should look to drop their inhibitions. With the halfway entry and exit of Dwayne Bravo who is soon to return to his homeland, CSK should alternate between Hazlewood and Tahir according to surfaces.

MI, on the other hand, is already in an indomitable position but has lost against CSK. Chennai exactly needs to remember that and Mumbai shouldn't.

Top 3 in Mumbai are in good form and De Kock is having a dream run, if he extends it today, it could be Mumbai's day. Pollard too has found his feet.

Dhoni after an unsavoury comment of not finding the spark in youngsters was at the receiving end. He can give youngsters a chance to find the spark rather than letting them warm the bench.

After KKR's crushing defeat at the hands of RCB, CSK still has a tiny chance to make it to the playoffs. But better for the team if they assume, they're going home after the league stages for the reasons mentioned at the beginning.

Mumbai needs to avenge defeat and Chennai has nothing to lose so it is natural the teams would set Sharjah on fire.

CSK probables XI (in batting order): N Jagadeesan, S Watson, Faf Du Plessis, A Rayudu, S Curran, R Jadeja, MS Dhoni, J Hazlewood, S Thakur, D Chahar, S Kishore 

MI probables XI (in batting order): De Kock, R Sharma, S Yadav, K Pollard, K Pandya, H Pandya, I Kishan, N Nile, R Chahar, T Boult, J Bumrah