CSK head into their final league game knowing that a defeat will shut the door on their playoff hopes. Injuries have plagued their campaign, leaving them clinging to slim mathematical chances of entering the last four stage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Though a victory here will not guarantee them a top\u2011four berth, as CSK have to be dependent on other results to go in their favour. After winning the toss, Gaikwad said Gurjapneet and Short are included in place of Akeal Hosein and Prashant Veer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThere will be some pace and bounce, and we want to explore it early on. It is about trusting the process, and we didn't get the results our way. We want to keep it simple and turn it around,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
GT, meanwhile, will be keen to arrest any slide in momentum ahead of the playoffs, and a win over CSK would also strengthen their push for a top\u2011two finish. Skipper Shubman Gill said pacer Prasidh Krishna replaces R Sai Kishore in their playing eleven when the GT bowling innings comes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe'd have bowled first. Doesn't make a difference as there's not much dew. It's all about keeping the intensity up. Our fielding hasn't been on par in the last couple of seasons.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOur bowling has been right up there, and batting has been good too. All three departments need to come together. Just because we have a Q, doesn't mean the job is done. Hope for three more good games,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The pitch report by Graeme Swann and Aaron Finch said Thursday\u2019s game will be played on a red soil pitch, with square boundaries at 62 and 70 metres respectively, while the ground boundary is at 72 metres. Both opined that the pitch having green grass just tells them that it will hold enough pace in what is expected to be a good batting wicket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Playing XIs: <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Matthew Short, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary, and Gurjapneet Singh<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Impact substitutes: Kartik Sharma, Macneil Noronha, Sarfaraz Khan, Kuldip Yadav, and Aman Khan<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Matthew Short, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Spencer Johnson, Mukesh Choudhary, and Gurjapneet Singh<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Impact substitutes: Prasidh Krishna, Anuj Rawat, Glenn Phillips, Kulwant Khejroliya, and Kumar Kushagra<\/p>\r\n\r\n