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Horse Racing Thursday's IPL Best Bet: April 21st
Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings Best Bet
Thursday, April 21st, 3pm (UK time)
With a combined nine IPL titles, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians find themselves in unfamiliar territory at the foot of this year’s table, with a solitary win between them from 12 matches.
It was Chennai who claimed it when defeating Bangalore by 23 runs, and they would have gone back-to-back were it not for an inspired David Miller, who’s heroic 94 from 51 balls snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
For Mumbai it isn’t hard to pinpoint the struggles which have led to their longest ever IPL losing streak. Their unbalanced bowling attack continues to leak runs – 180 runs on average – while Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard continue to struggle with bat in hand.
Here though I’m expecting both sides to release the shackles in quest of victory, and my best bet is reliant on a run fest between the two.
As mentioned, Mumbai’s bowling has been expensive to say the least. They rank last for runs conceded per match, bowling economy (9.60 per over), and wickets taken (31), with Jasprit Bumrah proving especially fruitless, with just four wickets this campaign.
This couples CSK’s recent resurgence with the bat, which saw them post 216 for 4 at this ground last week, and their instrumental opener Ruturaj Gaikwad found form with a timely 73 on Sunday.
So far, the average first innings total at the DY Patil stadium is 172, and when batting first Mumbai have reached scores of 199, 198 and 193. Alongside CSK’s first-innings total’s of 131, 210, 154 and 216, the bar of 340.5 total match runs looks rather generous.
I also think it is also only a matter of time before Kieron Pollard lights up IPL 15. The West Indian has now gone 12 IPL innings without passing 25, which is the longest stretch in his 184-game IPL career.
Against a CSK side who conceded 48 runs from their final 18 deliveries versus the Titans, I think Pollard could capitalize and prove his worth to Mumbai as questions start to arise surrounding his place in the XI.
- Selection: Over 340.5 Match Runs
- Best Odds: 1.83 (Bet365)
- Stake: 8/10
Odds as at 9am April 21st 2022. Odds may now differ.
