IPL 2020: MI vs CSK Game Plan 3 – Is Bravo Chennai’s trump card against Bumrah?

The first match of the IPL 2020 tournament between the blockbuster teams, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, could all be about match-ups. Here, we take a look at a key game plan that could play a role in the IPL 2020 opener – MI vs CSK MI vs CSK Game Plan – Malinga-less MI […]
 
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IPL 2020: MI vs CSK Game Plan 3 – Is Bravo Chennai’s trump card against Bumrah?

The first match of the IPL 2020 tournament between the blockbuster teams, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, could all be about match-ups. Here, we take a look at a key game plan that could play a role in the IPL 2020 opener – MI vs CSK

MI vs CSK Game Plan – Malinga-less MI and the Bumrah threat that can be evaded

Mumbai are a team known for their tight death bowling, thanks to the presence of two of the best death bowlers in t20 cricket – Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga. With last season’s final over hero Malinga unavailable this season, the onus is on Bumrah to carry the burden at the death, which he has been doing to perfection for quite a while now.

CSK are one of the fastest-scoring teams in the death overs. Their run rate of 10.70 at the death since 2018 is next only to KKR’s 10.93. Against Mumbai, CSK score at 10.00 runs per over, which is less than their average buts till better than the average run rate against MI.

How have MI Pacers Performed in Death Overs Since 2018?

None of the bowlers barring Bumrah has an economy below 10, indicating a chink in MI’s armory. Nathan Coulter-Nile had good numbers at the death in 2017 but has not bowled a single ball in death overs in the last two seasons. Except Bumrah who has troubled Dhoni to some extent, no other pacer looks threatening enough against the CSK skipper, something CSK will be happy about, thanks to the absence of Malinga. Dhoni must be looking to play out the spinners without taking any risk to capitalize at the vulnerable death bowling.

ALSO READ: MI vs CSK – Game Plan 2: MI spinners pose stiff challenge for CSK batsmen

Against someone like Bumrah, batsmen either need to be very skilled or they need to play some unorthodox cricket to succeed. Fortunately for CSK, they have someone in their ranks who can do the job – DJ Bravo. Bravo changed the game on its head in the 2018 season opener by hitting Bumrah for 3 sixes in the penultimate over before getting out.

IPL 2020: MI vs CSK Game Plan 3 – Is Bravo Chennai’s trump card against Bumrah?

Dwayne Bravo vs Jasprit Bumrah in T20s

Since 2018, Bravo has a strike rate of 193.75 against Bumrah at the death. In the 16 balls he has faced, the CSK all-rounder has smashed 4 sixes. Though he has also been dismissed twice, it is clear that Bravo is someone who has the potential to go after Bumrah while Dhoni takes on the rest from the other end.

ALSO READ: MI vs CSK – Game Plan 1: CSK’s openers and the powerplay threat

Hence it is imperative for CSK that Dhoni stays till the end and Bravo bats at the death irrespective of the batting order. CSK’s success in this MI vs CSK fixture could depend on how they counter Mumbai’s match-up games.