IPL 2021: Brian Lara picks his favourite for CSK vs MI clash

The Indian Premier League (IPL) returns on Sunday (19 September), with Mumbai Indians taking on Chennai Super Kings (CSK). This is probably the biggest rivalry in IPL and undoubtedly a riveting one. Over the past two years or so, MI have gone on to boss this matchup by winning five games as opposed to CSK winning just one game. Currently, MI are ahead with 19 wins. But CSK have shown glimpses of returning to form like the old editions and currently sit second on the points table.

The momentum is with CSK, but the matchup rivalry is with MI. Nonetheless the battle as usual promises to be a mouthwatering one between these two IPL giants. Cricketer-turned-expert Brian Lara has picked MI to get the better of three-time IPL champions CSK in match number 30 of IPL.

"The fact that Mumbai Indians left Chepauk with a little bit of success, I think that will give them the confidence they need. They are going back to the UAE, where they won the IPL 2020. For me, they are going to start favorites. Their confidence is going to be high just from the fact that they have got good memories of playing in the UAE. I think they can get the better of CSK,” Lara said on Cricket.com's show Man vs Machine."

Speaking about CSK, Lara feels the team might not be able to find the same momentum as was seen during the first half of the IPL. The former West Indies concern stems from the fact that CSK finished at bottom of the points table during the IPL 2020 held in UAE.

"They might have been the unhappiest team when it was curtailed in May. They have changed up a few players and I feel they have a more all-round team, especially getting Moeen Ali in," Lara added.