Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s hopes of exorcising a 17-year jinx hinge on their skilled batting unit discovering its vary once they face acquainted foes Chennai Super Kings in their IPL match in Chennai on Friday (March 27, 2025).
The Royal Challengers have overwhelmed the Super Kings solely as soon as at Chepauk — in the inaugural version of the match in 2008. In the present RCB squad, solely star batter Virat Kohli was a part of that second and now he’ll wish to breach the CSK’s fortress for a second time.
But that is straightforward to dream. As ever, the Chennai outfit is constructed to win their house matches on a pitch that provides appreciable assist to spinners.
They have the ever-familiar Ravindra Jadeja and have introduced again ‘outdated boy’ Ravichandran Ashwin by way of final 12 months’s gamers’ public sale.
The Chennai facet has additionally added Afghanistan left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad too to the squad, and the troika did properly in opposition to fellow five-time champions Mumbai Indians a number of days again.
The triumvirate bowled 11 overs in opposition to Mumbai, conceding an considerable 70 runs for 5 wickets.
The pitch is anticipated to retain its character for this match as properly, and the RCB batters, led by Kohli, should carry their sport a number of notches to outwit an skilled bowling unit.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s hopes of exorcising a 17-year jinx hinge on their skilled batting unit discovering its vary once they face acquainted foes Chennai Super Kings in their IPL match in Chennai.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters
Outwit is the important thing phrase right here. The Royal Challengers’ batting unit must be intelligent greater than downright aggressive to attain off CSK’s three-pronged spin unit, and Kohli ought to lead that cost.
Negating spin has not at all times been a powerful level of Kohli’s batting however in the final two years or so he has confirmed huge enchancment in that division.
Central to that change is his willingness to play extra sweep/slog sweeps in opposition to spinners, and Kohli should convey all these experience to the desk on a blockbuster Friday night.
But then Kohli alone will not capable of deal with a reliable bowling machine, and he would require full-hearted help from Phil Salt, skipper Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma and so forth.
Looking on the Chepauk pitch, RCB may even contemplate bringing in Jacob Bethell, probably for Tim David, who additionally present a left-arm spin possibility.
They may also maintain an eye fixed on the health of pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who missed the primary match in opposition to KKR as a result of a niggle, and if the veteran is match then he’ll come in for Rasikh Salam.
On the opposite hand, the Super Kings will probably be keen for his or her middle-order to seek out its groove as Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda and Sam Curran faltered in opposition to MI in the final match.
They ought to lend extra help to Rachin Ravindra and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, whereas hoping for an additional sturdy cameo from MS Dhoni if it involves that.
The CSK may also carefully monitor the health of ace pacer Matheesha Pathirana, who missed the sport in opposition to Mumbai.
Nathan Ellis could sit out if the Sri Lankan regains his health in time.
Teams (from):
Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Ravichandran Ashwin, Devon Conway, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Shaik Rashid, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Deepak Hooda, Gurjanpreet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishnan Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Vansh Bedi, Andre Siddarth.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Salam, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethel, Devdutt Padikkal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee.
Match begins at 7.30 PM.
Published – March 27, 2025 02:38 pm IST
