IPL 2021, CSK vs MI: Mumbai Indians to win 1st match of UAE leg vs Chennai Super Kings, says Aakash Chopra

Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has predicted that the Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians (MI) will kickstart the UAE leg of IPL 2021 with a win over MS Dhoni-led the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Dubai on Sunday.

Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians renew their celebrated rivalry to kick start the resumption of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 on Sunday.

It’s #OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #CSKvMI #IPL2021 #KhelTakaTak @MXTakaTak MI TV pic.twitter.com/gk3bAMetAH

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) September 19, 2021

“I am putting my neck on the block, you can make the memes. I am going with Mumbai Indians to win,” Aakash Chopra said on his Youtube channel.

Chopra picked Chennai’s spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali as two of the key performers in the game while adding that finger spinners are expected to taste more success than the wrist spinners in Dubai.

“Finger fingers to pick more wickets than wrist spinners. You might see Tahir and Chawla play, Rahul Chahar will surely play. But Moeen Ali and Jaddu will do a fairly good job on this big ground. They will be taking more wickets,” Chopra added.

“The first boundary to be scored within the first ten balls. I am expecting a bit of caution – an inside edge or outside edge or a boundary on the legs. I don’t think you will see free-flowing cricket right at the outset. Everybody might just start with a bit of caution.

Chopra said that the Dubai pitch would offer movement to the bowlers, who’ll be able to pick up at least one wicket inside the powerplay if not more.

“The first wicket will surely fall in the first four overs, it is possible two might also fall. The last time when the first match was played in Dubai, the pitch was hard and had grass, there was a lot of sideways movement available. Even though you might play cautiously, despite that Deepak Chahar, Bumrah or Boult – whoever bowls, they will still get you out,” Chopra signed off.