With Mahendra Singh Dhoni being the same player and no one to "bell the cat", CSK are in unusual mess with a mis-firing top-order where the skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has had to give up his opening slot.
Hardik Pandya reclaims top spot among T20I all-rounders, Tilak Varma jumps 69 places to third among batters
Mumbai Indians have the upper hand given their current form despite having lost to CSK in their IPL season-opener in Chepauk.
Here are the batters who brought the crowds to their feet at Chepauk on Sunday night...
Russell's explosive 42 runs off 23 balls was a game-changer.
Chennai Super Kings have never experienced a worse phase in the Indian Premier League and their faltering batters will have to deliver to arrest their steep slide in a must-win game against an upbeat Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow on Monday.
All-rounder Aaron Hardie will travel with rest of the Australia squad to India as cover for Sean Abbott and Nathan Ellis.
Australia's Champions Trophy roster will have a different look to the peerless squad that took a record-extending sixth World Cup title at the 2023 tournament in India.
Several other pacers are unavailable due to injury including Spencer Johnson and Nathan Ellis.
Chennai Super Kings might feel more 'at home' against an equally clueless Rajasthan Royals on a slow turner expected to be on offer in their next IPL game in Guwahati.
Chennai Super Kings will lean on their formidable spin strength under favourable conditions at the Chepauk as well as recent record against Mumbai Indians sans Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, when the two sides face each other in their Indian Premier League campaign opener in Chennai on Sunday.
A washout in England-Namibia game in the same group will see Scotland go through.
The upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Delhi Capitals (DC) in Chennai promises a captivating battle between wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Noor Ahmad. Both bowlers are known for their artistry and ability to control the middle overs.
The performance marked a significant milestone for Zampa, as he became the first Australian bowler to reach the coveted 100-wicket mark in T20 Internationals
Both teams have struggled in the ODI format recently. World champions Australia lost to Sri Lanka (0-2) and Pakistan (1-2) in their last two series, while England, now coached by Brendon McCullum in all formats, haven't won an ODI series since their disastrous 2023 World Cup campaign.
A report in ESPNcricinfo said the cricketer attempted to play a cross-bat shot and got hit on the chin, "with the ball lodging under the grill of his helmet, causing a severe cut near his throat".
England will be looking to bounce back from a rain-affected opening match and solidify their T20 World Cup campaign
Stoinis lost his spot in Australia's ODI team to Marnus Labuschagne during the World Cup in India
Australia are hosting West Indies for three T20s between Feb. 9-13 as part of their preparations for the T20 World Cup, which will be held in the Caribbean and U.S. in June.
IPL: Comeback-man Pant the highlight as Delhi Capitals take on Punjab Kings
Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis will miss the T20 tour of India with 'low level' injuries.
Australia might experiment in the group stage to find their best XI. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa will play a crucial role while left-arm spinner Ashton Agar is also expected to be in the mix.
Johnson sidelined for Aus tour of UK
Suryakumar Yadav leads a sprightly bunch of 'Gen-Next' stars against a strong Australian side in a five-match T20 series, starting in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
Australian chair of selectors George Bailey said Fraser-McGurk and Short made "compelling cases" for selection, and provide better than adequate cover should squad members go down during the tournament.
Almost half of the Australian team currently playing in the T20 International series in India will return home after the third match in Guwahati.
Despite a well-tuned 48 from local hero Riyan Parag, Rajasthan Royals struggled against an array of accurate bowlers on a rather slow pitch, meandering to a sub-par 144 for nine against Punjab Kings in their IPL match in Guwahati on Wednesday.
The three-match ODI series between Australia and West Indies will start from February 2 till February 6 in Brisbane, Sydney, and Canberra respectively.
'Especially in the middle overs. That's going to be a key challenge.'
Their pre-tournament decision to fill the squad with five spinners drew a lot of flak from all corners, but it is now proving to be a masterstroke on the slow pitches in Dubai.
If CSK fails to win Friday's match against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Chennai, it could turn to be a historic new low for them. It could be the first time that CSK have lost three matches in a row at home.
Jake Fraser-McGurk set the IPL alight with his smashing performance with the bat for Delhi Capitals, hitting 330 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 234.
David Warner and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis scored half-centuries as 2021 champions Australia opened their account in the T20 World Cup with a 39-run win against Oman.
Australia will open their campaign in the T20 World Cup against South Africa in the first game of the Super 12 stage at the Abu Dhabi Stadium on October 23.
Punjab Kings need a big win to keep their IPL 2023 Play-Off hopes alive against wooden spooners Delhi Capitals.
Media reports have said pace spearhead Pat Cummins, opener David Warner and several others might miss the tours after returning home following the abrupt suspension of the Indian Premier League last month.
Punjab Kings, who have been guilty of throwing it away in the past, are making a conscious effort to raise their game as the tournament progresses.
Veteran Smith, IPL sensation Fraser-McGurk ignored; Marsh to lead Aus at T20 WC
Matthew Short has also been called up as an extra batter while Travis Head recovers from a fracture to his left hand.
IMAGES from the Group B Champions Trophy match between Australia and England in Lahore on Saturday
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