THE EDGE: Our cricket tipster The Edge previews Tuesday’s IPL clash between Gujarat Titans v Chennai Super Kings with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
Qualifier 1; Gujarat Titans v Chennai Super Kings
MATCH OVERVIEW:
The IPL Playoffs arrive on BETDAQ Betting Exchange with the first Qualifier on Tuesday afternoon in Chennai. Gujarat Titans face Chennai Super Kings with a direct spot in the Final up from grabs. Although there is pressure heading into this game, the loser gets a second bite at the cherry on Friday when they face the winner of Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians. Gujarat Titans have been the top team again at the IPL this year, with a win over RCB on Sunday afternoon they topped the table by three points.
That win stopped RCB getting into the playoff spots, and it gave Gujarat their tenth win over the tournament this season. CSK have also been fantastic and have hardly put a foot wrong – MS Dhoni has got his side right back to their best form after finishing second bottom in last years IPL. Their batting and bowling has been top class, but it’s worth pointing out they have already lost to Gujarat this season. It feels like a lifetime ago now, but these two sides opened the tournament on the 31st of March. CSK posted 178/7 and Gujarat chased it down with four balls left at Ahmedabad.
I feel like CSK have grown a lot since the beginning of this tournament. Every player knows their role better within the side now, and they look very settled. They will be hard to beat here with home advantage, however Gujarat have been close to faultless. When you talk about everyone knowing the role within the side and carrying it out, that’s exactly what Gujarat are all about. They are so professional in every department. Their batting is world class, their middle order strong and their bowling is the best in the tournament. What a game we have in store.
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
We have the first two playoff games at Chennai. I would suggest this season has been text book Chennai really – we have had scores of over 200, dew and spinning wickets. Reading the wicket early on in games at Chennai is very important. You’re either looking at a 200+ wicket or one where 140 is competitive. It’s one of those odds grounds where you don’t get much in between! The first inning scores here have been 217/7 (won), 175/8 (won), 134/7 (chased), 200/4 (chased), 139/8 (chased), 167/8 (won) and 144/6 (chased). I have to say it is genuinely a 50/50 decision at the toss. If there isn’t dew around, I’d bat and if there is a dew or an expected heavy dew, I’d bowl.
RECOMMENDED BET:
With CSK effectively having home advantage because of the schedule, CSK come into the game as the favourites. I disagree with that though, I know there was only three points between the sides in the table but Gujarat have been by far the best side in the IPL this season. They have the bowlers to take advantage of a spinning wicket here, and then if we have a belter they have the middle order power hitting to score over 200. To me they just have everything you’d want in a T20 side, and they can beat CSK again. Gujarat are a confident bet for me, just not quite a Max Bet with the game in Chennai!
The Edge Says:
Three points win Gujarat Titans to beat Chennai Super Kings at 2.04 with Betdaq Exchange
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/GujCsk
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
The most important thing to do in Chennai is take the first three overs to see what the wicket is like. As I highlighted above, we can get a belter and a spinning wicket here. You’ll know very early which one we have by the carry with the new ball. If it’s not carrying here then you’re looking at a reasonably low scoring wicket, and watch out for dew too – if there’s dew expected or conditions for dew, I would expect a high scoring game. We saw over 200 chased here in the season too. I’d be keen to support the Gujarat middle order in these conditions either way though – they have a brilliant middle order and that will be the difference in my opinion.
