After a string of patchy performances, (CSK) will be eager to hit the reset button as they gear up to face (LSG) in Lucknow

That’s a sharp and sobering picture of where CSK stand right now — and honestly, it feels eerily similar to that 2020 season, where the old warhorses just couldn’t carry the load anymore and the gaps became too wide to paper over. Dhoni stepping back in as captain usually signals calm and tactical nous, but even his legendary game sense can’t patch up a side whose batting engine has stalled this badly. That stat — 61 dot balls against KKR — really sums it up. The lack of intent, especially from the top and middle order, has left them playing catch-up every single game. You can almost sense the overreliance on someone like Shivam Dube to bail them out, which isn't sustainable over a long campaign. Meanwhile, LSG seem to have cracked their formula: power at the top, finishers like Pooran and Stoinis, and a bowling attack that’s improving with each game. If their spinners can squeeze CSK on the slowish Ekana track, and their top order fires like it has, it could be another long night for the Men in Yellow. Unless Gaikwad or Dube plays a blinder, or someone like Sameer Rizvi (if picked) finally steps up, the signs point toward another LSG domination. And given that LSG are pushing for the top of the table, the hunger gap between these two sides could be glaring. Head-to-head: LSG 3 - 1 CSK in 5 matches with one No-Result. All four games between the two sides have been high-scoring contests. Now that’s the kind of match-up CSK will have to hang their hopes on — a little bit of tactical nous and some well-timed firepower. If they can get Pooran early, especially via Pathirana, it’ll take a big chunk of stability and explosiveness out of LSG's middle order. That head-to-head (4 dismissals in 25 balls!) is gold for CSK, and it’s the kind of match-up that could shape the night. The only gamble is getting to use Pathirana — which, as you mentioned, depends on their batting not forcing them to burn the Impact Sub on a rescue batter again. Ashwin vs Pooran is another fascinating sub-plot. Even though Pooran’s been monstrous against spin this season, Ashwin’s historical edge makes it a risk worth taking, especially if the surface shows any grip. If CSK can slow down LSG through the middle, by squeezing Pooran and Markram, it buys them breathing room — otherwise 200+ could be on the cards, again. Also, on the other side: if CSK bat first, the template almost writes itself — Gaikwad must anchor deep, Dube has to clear boundaries, and someone like Moeen or Rizvi must offer the finishing. If they chase, it's about surviving the new ball, because Mohsin Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq have been sharp with early swing at Ekana. The margins for CSK are paper-thin at this point, but they’ve got the tools — they just haven’t put the whole puzzle together. Both teams Probable XIs : Chennai Super Kings : Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana Lucknow Super Giants : Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant, Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, Digvesh Rathi, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi