"The new-ball bowlers of Gujarat vs Chennai's best in-form batters" - Aakash Chopra on the battle to watch out for in CSK-GT Qualifier 1 clash

Aakash Chopra has picked the contest between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) openers and the Gujarat Titans (GT) new-ball bowlers as the battle to watch out for in the IPL 2023 Qualifier 1.

The MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya-led sides will lock horns at Chepauk in Chennai on Tuesday, May 23. CSK lost to GT by five wickets in the tournament opener in Ahmedabad and will want to avenge that loss at home.

While previewing the game in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra chose Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway vs Mohammad Shami and Co. as a riveting contest, elaborating:

"Within that big battle, you always have some small-small battles. The new-ball bowlers of Gujarat vs Chennai's best in-form batters, that's the battle that I am looking forward to watch. The last time when these two teams met, Mohammad Shami did an amazing job. He hit Devon Conway's stumps right at the start."

However, the former Indian opener was unsure about who would be Shami's partner with the new ball, saying:

"Now when they meet here, Mohammad Shami will be on one side, and alongside him will be either Yash Dayal or someone else. Hardik Pandya might bowl. How they bowl to Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway is likely to set the tone of the match."

Hardik Pandya hasn't bowled for the Gujarat Titans in their last three games. The defending champions might thus persist with Yash Dayal as Shami's new-ball partner unless the GT skipper was saving himself for the playoff games.

---

"Impossible" - Aakash Chopra on picking a favorite for the CSK-GT clash

CSK lost to GT in the IPL 2023 opener despite Ruturaj Gaikwad's 92-run knock. [P/C: iplt20.com]

Aakash Chopra feels it is virtually impossible to pick a favorite for Tuesday's game, stating:

"In whose favor is the scale tilted in this game? Impossible. We used to say Chennai with our eyes closed when the match used to be in Chennai earlier because no one could beat them."

The cricketer-turned-commentator concluded by pointing out that CSK are not as impregnable at home as they used to be earlier, observing:

"This year KKR, Rajasthan and Punjab defeated them. So it's not the same fortress anymore, things have changed somewhat. This pitch is no longer that slow, runs are now available. I am not making any prediction here. Whoever plays well will win."

The winner of Qualifier 1 will book a spot in the IPL 2023 final to be played in Ahmedabad on Sunday, May 28. The loser will face the winner of the Eliminator clash between the Lucknow Super Giants and the Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 to determine the other finalist.