IPL 2022 Match 1: Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders - Cricket Match Prediction, Fantasy XI Tips & Probable XI

The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League is set to begin as IPL 2022 is returning to India. The season finalists from the last edition, Chennai Super Kings will clash against Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening fixture. 

CSK vs KKR: Match Details

• Date - Saturday, March 26, 2022
• Time - 7:30 PM IST
• Venue - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

CSK vs KKR Match Preview: 

The defending champions Chennai Super Kings will be looking to start off strong in the season after retaining most of the players from their title-winning squad in IPL 2021. Last season's orange cap winner Ruturaj Gaikwad will open the innings with NZ explosive batter Devon Conway. Robin Uthappa is expected to play at #3 in the absence of Moeen Ali, with Rayudu at #4, captain Jadeja at #5, Shivam Dube at #6 followed by former captain MS Dhoni at #7. 

CSK bowling attack is expected to constitute two foreign bowlers in England's Chris Jordan and New Zealand's Adam Milne. Whil U19 Indian star Rajvardhan Hangargekar is expected to debut and the CSK bowling attack will also feature the experience of two-time purple cap winner Dwayne Bravo. 

Runners-up in IPL 2021, Kolkata Knight Riders have a fairly different squad from their successful IPL 2021 campaign. Last season's find Venkatesh Iyer is expected to open the innings with Ajinkya Rahane, with new captain Shreyas Iyer at #3. Nitish Rana was rebought at the auction and is expected to play at #4, while wicketkeeper Sam Billings & Andre Russell will be in the role of finishers in this KKR team. 

The KKR bowling will be led by the experienced Sunil Narine, consisting of young pacer Shivam Mavi, experienced Indian test bowler Umesh Yadav and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy. Sri Lankan right arm pacer - Chamika Karunaratne may make his place in the playing XI in the absence of Pat Cummins & Tim Southee.

CSK vs KKR Cricket Match Prediction:

Even though this is the first match of this season and any predictions are uncalled for, yet CSK have the upper hand going into the match with their tried and tested balanced team against the young KKR team with a new skipper.

CSK vs KKR Head-to-Head: 

• Total - 26
• Chennai Super Kings - 17
• Kolkata Knight Riders - 8
• No Result - 1

CSK vs KKR Team News: 

Chennai Super Kings will miss the services of Deepak Chahar who is out due to an injury. Moeen Ali will also miss out due to visa problems and will join the CSK squad in their second game. 

Alex Hales backed out prior to the start of the season citing bubble fatigue as the reason. Pat Cummins is also set to miss the first few games due to his participation in the ongoing Australia tour of Pakistan. While Tim Southee will also be unavailable for the first match. 

CSK vs KKR Probable Playing XI: 

• Chennai Super Kings - Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni (C & wk), Dwayne Bravo, Chris Jordan, Rajvardhan Hangargekar/Tushar Deshpande, Adam Milne
• Kolkata Knight Riders - Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer (C), Nitish Rana, Sam Billings (wk), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Chamika Karunaratne, Shivam Mavi, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

CSK vs KKR Fantasy XI: 

• Wicket-keeper - Sam Billings
• Batters - Devon Conway (VC), Shreyas Iyer (C), Nitish Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad
• All-rounders - Ravindra Jadeja, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell
• Bowlers - Varun Chakravarthy, Rajvardhan Hagargekar/Tushar Deshpande, Chamika Karunaratne

Also Read: IPL 2022 - Scorecard