Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Moeen Ali has compared MI vs CSK battle in the IPL to the legendary football rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool. He termed MI vs CSK match as one of the biggest for a cricketer outside of international cricket.
Mumbai and Chennai will resume their iconic rivalry when they face off at the Mumbai Wankhede Stadium in the doubleheader evening game on Saturday, April 8.
While CSK has won one and lost one of the two games they have played so far, MI began their IPL 2023 campaign with an eight-wicket loss to RCB.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of the MI vs CSK clash, Moeen Ali stated:
“This is a game I really look forward to. These are the two most successful franchises and the fan-following is huge and this is one of the biggest games you can play as a cricketer outside of international cricket. In football’s point of view, it is like Manchester United playing Liverpool. These are huge games.”
Moeen Ali, the England all-rounder, supported Deepak Chahar, who had a rough time in the first two games for the franchise. On his performance, Moeen remarked:
“I think the only thing he is lacking is game time. He had a bad injury and is coming back after a long time. Unless you can bowl in a proper game which you need as a bowler, he will get better as the tournament goes on.
“He is a big bowler for us and when he gets it right he gets three or four wickets in the powerplay.”
“We call it El Clasico of the IPL”: Kieron Pollard on MI vs CSK clash
While fans await Saturday’s highly-anticipated game with enthusiasm, MI batting coach Kieron Pollard views it simply as any other game. He downplayed the excitement, saying:
“It’s just another game. Obviously, it’s a big game, we call it El Clasico of the IPL, MI vs CSK, and a lot of expectations are thrust upon this match in terms of who’s going to come out on top.”
“It’s about keeping calm, watching that white Kookaburra when you’re batting, and when you’re bowling, just trying to keep it in the right areas, continuing to go about the plans that have been set to dominate the opposition.” He added.
Regarding the former West Indies teammate Dwayne Bravo now being in the opposing team as a coach, he remarked:
“I look forward to my batters coming up against DJ (Bravo, the CSK bowling coach) and his bowlers, and hopefully we can see how that goes, and who can be singing at the end of it – or who will be singing, and who will be crying.”