Counting down to what could go down in history as one of the most significant seasons of the IPL, with an overseas flavour nonetheless, the cricket-mad Indian populace eagerly awaits the Friday slated to get the ball underway as holders and joint-most successful team in the long glorious history of the tournament, Chennai Super Kings, take on noisy neighbours, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, looking for their maiden crown on the back of the success of their women’s side.
If a clash between a bonfire Indian legend, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli, the poster boy of RCB, was not enough to spike the levels of hype surrounding the game through the charts, throw in the possibility of the upcoming edition being possibly the World Cup-winning captain’s swansong with his stepping away from CSK captaincy, and the excitement feels clearly palpable. A day before the start of the league, CSK have anointed Ruturaj Gaikwad as their new skipper, essentially confirming that this will be MSD’s final season in yellow.
The ‘Kaveri-derby’ as it has come to be known is a sporting manifestation of the ideological tug-of-war, primarily over the elixir of life-water, between the neighbouring states that has waged on for seemingly ages now, and bragging rights are up for grabs alongside the two pints whenever the sides meet.
Follow all the action from IPL 2024, including the IPL 2024 Schedule and IPL 2024 Points Table. Also, check Players vying for IPL 2024 Orange Cap and IPL 2024 Purple Cap
Chennai Super Kings claimed their record-levelling fifth IPL title in a nail-biting summit clash against the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad nearly a year ago. The much-loved ‘yellow’ are back to defend their crown with the opener against the newly renamed RCB.
The traditionally conservative CSK, much like the city they have based itself, have demonstrated their acumen for moving with the times with its fabulous track record in the cash-rich tournament over the years and seem to have turned a corner with the new-look side that boats of multiple quality additions such as Kiwi boys Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Bangla pacer Mustafizur Rahman, and homegrown hopes of Shardul Thakur, Sameer Rizvi, and Avinash Aravally.
MS Dhoni: The Wanderer Who Found Home in Chennai
Chennai went all guns blazing to acquire the services of Mitchell, shelling out a mouth-watering 14 crore Indian rupees to secure an able replacement for former No. 4 batter Ambati Rayudu. The signing of compatriot Ravindra, who set the world ablaze at the ICC ODI World Cup earlier in the year, was a masterstroke worth a round of applause. Thakur, a CSK old boy, returns to the side that launched him to fame, while domestic sensation Rizvi will also be eager to make his presence felt under the aegis of the charismatic skipper.
What: CSK vs RCB, Match 1, IPL 2024
When: March 22, 2024, 7:30 PM IST
Where: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai
Where to Watch: Jio Cinema App and website
CSK Team News
Chennai could play a number of combinations against the RCB, but the common consensus is that Ravindra would open the innings alongside the new captain Gaikwad, with veteran Ajinkya Rahane walking in at No.3. Mitchell could provide the team with a seamless transition before the big-hitting Shivam Dube takes the crease.
Names that strike fear in the hearts of opponents, such as maverick all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, the main man Dhoni himself, would ideally follow with minor tweaks expected through the season.
‘End of the Greatest Era’: MS Dhoni Steps Down as CSK Captain, Fans go Into Meltdown
The embarrassment of batting riches is compounded by the fact that CSK also have Moeen Ali, the injured Devon Conway, and the promising Sameer Rizvi at their disposal.
Indian pacers Deepak Chahar and Tushar Deshpande are expected to spearhead the bowling contingent with support from the Sri Lankan duo of Matheesa Pathirana (set to miss first few games) and Maheesh Theekshana, who have brought into the CSK culture, and the combination has borne fruit. The experience of Mustafizur Rahman can fill Pathirana’s absence.
CSK Playing XI vs RCB:
MS Dhoni (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rachin Ravindra, Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana, and Mustafizur Rahman
RCB Team News
RCB, on the other hand, managed to land the services of Windies pacer Alzarri Joseph, English all-rounder Tom Curran, Kiwis pacer Lockie Ferguson, and Indians Yash Dayal, Swapnil Singh, Saurav Chauhan at the auction table to try and help Kohli and Co. claim the trophy the Karnataka-capital city has been yearning for ages.
As usual, the Bengaluru-based side has a stacked batting order. Kohli and skipper Faf Du Plessis, a former CSK opener, could begin the innings, with foreign bigwigs Glenn Maxwell and Cameroon Green taking over if a wicket comes to pass. Rajat Patidar, Dinesh Karthik, and Mahipal Lomror would probably be trusted to anchor the middle-order positions before the onus falls to the RCB tail.
The bowling attack will be shouldered by strike bowler Mohammed Siraj, with support from Akash Deep and newly-acquired Joseph, while Karn Sharma provides a specialist spin option.
Chennai have a vastly superior head-to-head record, as the formerly Dhoni-led side has managed to clinch 20 games in the 31 meetings between the sides thus far. But when CSK tried a new captain who was not named Dhoni, they looked like a meek shadow of themselves, forcing the ‘Thala’ to take up the role again. Now, in Gaikwad, CSK has shown trust, and the question will be, will the young Maharashtrian sink or swim?
RCB have triumphed ten times against their rivals, with one match rendering no result due to a washout.
RCB Playing XI vs CSK:
Faf du Plessis (C), Virat Kohli, Cameron Green, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik (Wk), Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Alzarri Joseph, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj
CSK vs RCB Pitch Report
The Chepauk pitch, which has come to be known for its amicability in spin bowling, has spurred the Chennai charge forward over the years. The hosts will hope for a continuation of the pattern as they welcome RCB to the Den for the curtain raiser of the tournament. This is scheduled to follow an opening ceremony of magnanimous proportions, headlined by Chennai’s very own Oscar winner, AR Rahman.
Comments
0 comment