Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, MA Chidambaram Stadium, 7:30 PM
What to Expect
When Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clash, it’s either a one-sided domination or a heart-stopping thriller. The Chepauk pitch, known for its unpredictability, could play a decisive role. If it behaves like it did in the season opener, a high-scoring game seems unlikely. RCB’s formidable batting lineup will face a stern test against CSK’s spin trio of Noor Ahmad, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin. The real question is: Can RCB’s batters decode the spin puzzle? Against KKR, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli neutralized Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine with ease. If they can replicate that magic, RCB might just break their Chepauk jinx. For CSK, the focus is on their middle-overs batting, which faltered against MI’s spinners in their last game. RCB’s spin attack, led by Krunal Pandya, might not be as threatening, but the inclusion of young Suyash Sharma adds an element of unpredictability. The outcome of this epic showdown will hinge on RCB’s ability to handle spin with finesse.
Key Battle
All eyes will be on the duel between RCB’s top order—Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, and Devdutt Padikkal—and CSK’s spin wizards—Ashwin, Jadeja, and Noor. Kohli has fallen to Ashwin twice in the IPL, while Jadeja has dismissed him three times in his career. Noor, with his deceptive variations, is a threat to any batter. Another intriguing subplot is Krunal Pandya’s battle against Shivam Dube, especially after Krunal’s impressive spell against KKR.
CSK Playing XI
Matheesha Pathirana is still on the road to recovery, as confirmed by Stephen Fleming, meaning CSK will field an unchanged lineup.
Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, MS Dhoni (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Nathan Ellis, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed. Impact sub: Rahul Tripathi.
RCB Playing XI
While there’s a temptation to bolster the spin attack, RCB is likely to stick with Krunal Pandya as their primary spinner. Swapnil Singh and Mohit Rathee remain options, but the team might not risk experimenting in such a high-stakes game. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s extensive net sessions suggest he could be fit to play.
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt (wk), Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma. Impact sub: Devdutt Padikkal.
Pitch and Weather
The pitch is expected to offer some assistance to bowlers, but batting conditions won’t be as challenging as in the CSK-MI opener. Seamers might find early movement, while spinners will dominate the middle overs. The weather forecast is clear, with no rain or thunderstorms predicted.
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