IPL 2023 match preview: Chennai Super Kings v Lucknow Super Giants

Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2023 IPL

What's the match?

Chennai Super Kings take on Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier league.

When is it taking place?

The match will be played on Monday, April 3 with play commencing at 7:30pm local time (3pm GMT). 

Where is the match being played?

The game will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Who's got form?

Lucknow Super Giants made a triumphant start to their 2023 campaign, crushing Delhi Capitals by 50 runs. Opener Kyle Mayers smacked 73 runs from 38 deliveries to help the Super Giants to 193 for 6 before a devastating display of powerplay and death bowling from Mark Wood (5 for 14) wrapped up a convincing victory.

Chennai Super Kings, meanwhile, were defeated in their tournament opener, losing to Gujarat Titans by five wickets. Ruturaj Gaikwad impressed at the top of the order for CSK, top-scoring with 92 (50), but his side couldn't defend 178. Bowler Tushar Deshpande, who was substituted into the game in place of Ambati Rayudu, was particularly expensive, leaking 51 runs from 3.2 overs.

These two sides have only met once in the IPL, with Lucknow Super Giants completing a six-wicket win after successfully chasing 210.

What's the team news?

CSK are still without Sisanda Magala, who is currently involved in South Africa's ODI series against the Netherlands. After his dismal performance with the ball against the Titans, you'd suspect Deshpande might not be subbed into this encounter.

As for the Super Giants, they're also missing a South African, with opener Quinton de Kock playing alongside Magala in the white-ball series. Krishnappa Gowtham impressed after being subbed into the game against the Capitals, scoring a six off the one delivery he faced and later returning 0 for 23 with the ball.

Mark Wood picked up 5 for 14 on his debut for the Super Giants

What's the key matchup?

The challenge for CSK is how they face Wood, unless, of course, the Super Giants opt for a rest and rotation policy with their injury-prone pacer.

Against Gujarat Titans, CSK's batters did not cover themselves in glory against right-arm pace, with Mohammed Shami picking up 2 for 29 and Alzarri Joseph bagging 2 for 33. Aside from Gaikwad, the top seven were all light on runs, with Moeen Ali (23 off 17) the only other player to pass 20 or post a strike rate above 120.

Even Gaikwad fell to right-arm pace (although he did dispatch Joseph for three sixes), so Wood will be licking his lips at the opportunity to take on this batting line-up.

Head-to-head record

Matches played: 1

Chennai Super Kings wins: 0

Lucknow Super Giants wins: 1

What's the weather forecast?

It's set to be a hot one in Chennai, with temperatures expected to peak around 33 degrees and wall to wall sunshine.

What are the squads?

Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (c), Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayudu, Subhranshu Senapati, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Ravindra Jadeja, Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Chowdhary, Matheesha Pathirana, Simarjeet Singh, Deepak Chahar, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Ajinkya Rahane, Ben Stokes, Shaik Rasheed, Nishant Sidhu, Kyle Jamieson (injured, replaced by Sisanda Magala), Ajay Mandal, Bhagath Verma

Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (c), Ayush Badoni, Karan Sharma, Manan Vohra, Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, Krishnappa Gowtham, Deepak Hooda, Kyle Mayers, Krunal Pandya, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Mark Wood, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Nicholas Pooran, Jaydev Unadkat, Yash Thakur, Romario Shepherd, Daniel Sams, Amit Mishra, Prerak Mankad, Swapnil Singh, Naveen-ul-Haq, Yudhvir Charak

*squads are for the 2023 season as a whole and not specific to this match

^{Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 92 off 50 against Gujarat Titans}

What are the possible starting XIs?

Chennai Super Kings: Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Rajvardhan Hangargekar

Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul, Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas, Pooran, Krishnappa Gowtham, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Jaydev Unadkat, Mark Wood

What are the odds?

Lucknow Super Giants are the favourites, with odds of 10/11. Chennai Super Kings are available at 11/10.

Prediction?

If Wood replicates his performance against Delhi Capitals, CSK could be in trouble. Lucknow win.

Where can I watch the game?

In the UK, Sky Sports have exclusive rights to this year's tournament, with matches available on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket. 

Fans in India can watch all the action on Star Sports. 

Elsewhere in the world, viewers in Australia can watch the IPL on Fox Sports while in New Zealand, Sky Sport will provide coverage. 

Willow TV and Flow Sports will broadcast the tournament in the United States and the Caribbean, respectively. 

Fans in MENA can catch the action on beIN Sports while in South Africa, SuperSport have the rights. 

If you are watching from the Middle East, you'll be able to view the game on Times Internet. 

People from Bangladesh can watch the game on Gazi TV.