IPL 2021, CSK vs MI Playing XI: No Bravo, Dhoni as floater, Thakur can be promoted

Little over four months after the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic in India brought the IPL 2021 to an indefinite halt, the tournament is back, albeit this time, in the UAE to finish the remaining 31 matches of the season. The last time the IPL was on, fingers were pointed at it. With India grappling with a deadly Wave 2, questions were being asked of the IPL's existence. It went on silently, before the dreadful virus made its way through the bio-bubble and affected the players.

IPL 2021, CSK vs MI

Rightfully, it was called off. But now it's back, once again to revive cricket and do what it does best – provide entertainment and restore sanity back to cricket. And what better way than for the IPL to begin its second half by pitting its two giants against one another. The 'El Clasico' of the IPL as familiar rivals Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will get the second half underway.

MI and CSK have stolen the show several time in the past. Think of the IPL final in 2010, 2018 and 2019, to go with so many memorable league matches. And this promises to add to legacy of this rival. On one side is man in form Rohit Sharma, who cannot put a foot wrong. Fresh off a fabulous series in England, Rohit had only a few days to prepare after being transferred from England to the UAE via a charter flight. On the other hand, MS Dhoni has been training with his boys for a few weeks, but he doesn't have much game time behind him.

Two of the most successful IPL teams to kick things off.

It doesn't get better than that. Welcome back, IPL. Bring it on!

What: Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians, Match 30

When: Sunday, September 19

Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai

MI Probable XI:

1 Rohit Sharma (Captain), 2 Quinton de Kock (WK), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Ishan Kishan, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Adam Milne, 9 Trent Boult, 10 Rahul Chahar, 11 Jasprit Bumrah

CSK Probable XI:

1 Faf du Plessis, 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Ambati Rayudu, 5 Ravindra Jadeja, 6 MS Dhoni (Captain/WK) 7 Dwayne Bravo, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Josh Hazlewood

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