IPL 2019 is starting off with a scintillating match between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on March 23 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. But naturally, the comparisons between the two are due with many renowned players favoring their respective favorites.
CSK Has Better Record Against RCB
Both these franchise teams have been strong rivals in the history of IPL. With CSK being dropped out of the game for almost two years due to suspension, it was a tough task for Mahendra Singh Dhoni to still continue playing IPL under the banner of other franchise.
Dhoni is one of the reasons CSK has been doing so good in the Premier League. Last year, CSK came back with a bang winning the IPL trophy. Regarding the history of CSK and RCB in IPL, both these teams have fought each other 20 times in the league with CSK winning most of the times.
Importantly, ever since the current Indian captain Virat Kohli took over as the RCB captain, the games between the two teams have become more intense. It is because both Dhoni and Kohli are two of the most successful Indian cricket captains. Last year, Dhoni’s CSK won both the matches against RCB. MSD scored unbeatable 70 in 34 balls in Bengaluru.
In the second match, Ravindra Jadeja made a mark by picking three wickets against RCB in Pune.
CSK And Mumbai Indians Will Be Most-Eyed Teams
In the IPL 2018, CSK started off brilliantly defeating the defending champions Mumbai Indians led by Rohit Sharma. Dhoni’s team defeated Mumbai Indians by one wicket on the second last ball triggering of more nail-biting finishes for IPL matches all through the IPL 2018 season.
This year too during IPL 2019, all the eyes will be on CSK and Mumbai Indians and the way they will play the other franchises. With CSK starting off as defending champions against RCB, will Kohli’s team give the much-needed shock to the highly expected winner Chennai Super Kings during the starting match?
CSK but naturally is riding high as hot favorites to win the match and given their past record are most likely to win the opening IPL 2019 match.
Expected Teams For CSK And RCB In IPL 2019
Predicted XI Players For CSK
Ambati Rayudu, Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (C&WK), Kedar Jadhav, Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, David Willey, Deepak Chahar, Mohit Sharma, Imran Tahir
Predicted XI Players For RCB
Parthiv Patel (WK), Moeen Ali, Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers, Shimron Hetmyer, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
Tussle Between RCB And CSK Team: Who Will Make A Mark?
Undoubtedly, Dhoni has more experience as a captain and have proven himself as the cool-headed one winning even the most unexpected matches. So, in comparison to Kohli, Dhoni is indeed going to get more respect as a captain.
But Kohli is in top form as a batsman and has more often proved that his bat is sufficient to navigate his team’s victory. The frontline bowling attack of CSK will depend a lot on Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar and Mohit Sharma with two foreign all-rounders Dwayne Bravo and David Willey supporting them.
For RCB the challenge would be to find a good partner to open the innings with wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel. The team also looks tiger on the paper when it comes to bowling attack but failed to deliver during the IPL 2018 especially during the death hours.
Hopefully, with good batting lineup including Kohli and AB de Villiers on its side, RCB will be able to balance what it lacks in the bowling department.
