It’s MSD vs Pant as CSK take on DC

Mumbai, April 9

It will be a battle between the “young apprentice and the master” when Rishabh Pant’s Delhi Capitals and Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings meet in an IPL match here on Saturday. Delhi ended runners-up last season, while three-time champions CSK had a forgettable season, finishing seventh.

Delhi’s strong batting lineup of Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, Steven Smith and Pant will look to fire on all cylinders right from the opening game. Dhawan (618 runs) was the second-highest run-scorer in the previous edition. Shaw will be itching to prove his worth after amassing 827 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

They have enough options to choose from the battery of pacers comprising Ishant Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Umesh Yadav, Chris Woakes and Anrich Nortje.

On the other hand, Chennai will be bolstered by the return of the experienced batsman Suresh Raina, who is their all-time leading run-scorer, with 5,368 runs. Raina will strengthen the top-order, which has the likes of young Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis and Ambati Rayudu. — PTI