RCB vs CSK:

Another power-packed game is inbound as doubleheaders today set the field ablaze for eagerly awaited matchups. The fans eagerly wait for the RCB vs CSK clash to be held at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru rivalry will begin on May 18th.

However, wet weather is likely to spoil the game, therefore, players and broadcasters are expecting rain should stop by 6 PM on Saturday in Bengaluru.

Has the match been over-hyped?. Yet the results over the years have been overtaken by one counted RCB has only managed to win one of their last five games, and only 31% have won all their outings against them. The excitement is also fueled by sentimental factors. Could this be the final on-field clash between MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli? Might this be Dhoni’s last match for CSK?

While Dhoni and Kohli might dominate the headlines, several other storylines hold significant importance. This match features the season’s top spin-hitters: Shivam Dube, who excelled for CSK in the first half, and Rajat Patidar, who revitalized RCB in the second. Additionally, it will showcase a duel among Indian fast bowlers who have been pivotal in their teams’ recent victories. Although M Chinnaswamy Stadium is known for being batter-friendly, the game might hinge on which pace unit outperforms the other.

As for the venue, RCB have secured victories in their last two matches at Chinnaswamy after struggling earlier in the season. In contrast, CSK have only won two out of six away games. For CSK to succeed at Chinnaswamy, their batting lineup must deliver cohesively.

This match is effectively a quarter-final. RCB are on a hot streak with five consecutive wins, while CSK’s performance has been inconsistent. For CSK, the path to the playoffs is straightforward: either win or hope for a rainout, which is a real possibility given Bengaluru’s weather. On the other hand, RCB must not only win but also do so by a specific margin—if the score is 200, they need to win by 18 runs or chase it down with around 11 balls remaining to secure a spot in the top four.

RCB Playing 11 probables: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Swapnil Singh, Karn Sharma, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Siraj

[Impact Sub: Vijaykumar Vyshak/Yash Dayal]

CSK Playing 11 probables: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, Mitchell Santner/Richard Gleeson, Simarjeet Singh, Maheesh Theekshana

[Impact Sub: Sameer Rizvi]

Bengaluru vs Chennai head-to-head