Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Moeen Ali is notably absent from their final Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 league match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, May 18. Mitchell Santner has stepped in to replace Ali in the playing XI.
This development is due to England players being unavailable for the last league games and playoffs as they prepare for the 2024 T20 World Cup in June. Moeen Ali, who has contributed 128 runs and taken two wickets in his eight games for CSK this season, is among those affected.
Santner, who has taken one wicket in two games this season, brings considerable experience to the table. The left-arm spinner has an impressive record of 194 wickets in 191 T20 matches and is also a handy lower-order batter with over 2,000 runs in T20s.
At the toss, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad explained the change: “Just one change – Moeen isn’t available, Santner replaces him.”
CSK Opt to Bowl Against RCB in IPL 2024 Match
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and chose to bowl, citing overcast conditions and the potential for early movement. “We’ll bowl first. The wicket looks good, conditions are overcast, and we will look to make the most of the movement in the first 2-3 overs. It looks a bit damp, but we’ll go with great intent,” he said.
RCB, coming off five consecutive wins, fielded an unchanged side. They need to win the game by 18 runs or chase down the target with 11 balls to spare to reach 14 points and surpass CSK’s net run rate (NRR).
The defending champions, Super Kings, are coming off a five-wicket win against the Rajasthan Royals (RR). A win would secure their playoff spot, and even if the game is washed out due to rain, they will reach 15 points, enough to secure a top-four finish.
The two teams last met in this season’s opener, where CSK defeated RCB by six wickets in Chennai. As fans anticipate another thrilling encounter, the absence of Moeen Ali adds an intriguing twist to the match.
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