🏏IPL 2024: Match 68 - RCB vs CSK at Bengaluru @ 7:30PM IST🏏

🏏IPL 2024: Match 68 - CSK vs RCB at Bengaluru on 18/05/2024 @ 7:30PM IST🏏

[Logo Credit: Wildestdreams]

The RCB vs CSK virtual knockout could be the game of the season, weather permitting

Not to forget the big question: will this be MS Dhoni's IPL farewell if CSK fall short?

RCB vs CSK, the match of the season? Is the hype around this encounter justified?

The results over the years have been rather one-sided in favour of CSK. RCB have won only once in their last five meetings and only 31% of the all the matches in the IPL against them. So maybe not.

But this time, there is a lot at stake - it's a virtual quarter-final. RCB are in roaring form, with five wins in a row; CSK have been up and down. Scenarios-wise, it's easier for CSK to get through. Just win, or hope the game is rained out - not unlikely, considering the weather in Bengaluru. RCB, however, have to win and win by a certain margin - assuming a score of 200, they need to win by 18 runs or chase the target down with about 11 balls to spare - to get into the top four.

There are sentimental reasons for the hype too. Is this the last we'll see an MS Dhoni vs Virat Kohli encounter on the field? Will it be Dhoni's last game for CSK? (Nobody knows, not even CSK's batting coach Mike Hussey.)

Dhoni and Kohli may grab all the headlines, but some subplots mean much more. The two most powerful spin-hitters this season will come up against each other: Shivam Dube, who rocked it for CSK in the first half, and Rajat Patidar, who turned the fortunes around for RCB in the second. It will also be the battle of the Indian quicks, who have played key roles in their sides' wins in the last few games. M Chinnaswamy Stadium might be a batter-friendly surface, but it may all come down to which pace unit performs better on the day.

In terms of the venue, RCB have won both their recent matches at the Chinnaswamy after being relentlessly bashed by oppositions earlier in the season. CSK, however, have won only two of their six away matches. For CSK to gain an advantage at the Chinnaswamy, their batters must come together.

Does all of that make this the match of the season? It could very well be. Unless rain plays spoilsport.

[Tag Credit: Sutapasima]

Bengaluru weather hourly weather forecast:

According to accuweather.com, there is a 61 per cent chance of rainfall, starting at 1 PM IST in Bengaluru.

The weather prediction further shows that the chances of rainfall are reduced significantly after 3 PM IST.

There is no prediction of a thunderstorm from 4 PM to 11 PM IST, with chances of precipitation below 50 per cent during the same period.

M Chinnaswamy Stadiun pitch report for RCB vs CSK match

The wicket at M Chinnaswamy Stadium is expected to offer assistance to batters. However, it is not easy to predict the behaviour of Bengaluru wicket for RCB vs CSK match given it has been under covers since two days due to wet weather conditions.

Pitch and conditions

It was cloudy all day in Bengaluru on Friday, and there's a 78% chance of rain on Saturday, with the forecast saying there could be thunderstorms accompanied by showers in the evening. The average first-innings score at the venue this season is 193. The day before the game, there was no grass on the centre pitch, which will be used for this match, so expect it to be a belter.

Team news and Impact Player strategy

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

RCB are likely to bring back Glenn Maxwell for the game in place of Will Jacks, who has left for England duty. Patidar for Yash Dayal or Swapnil Singh will likely be the impact swap again.

RCB probable XII: 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Faf du Plessis (capt), 3 Glenn Maxwell, 4 Rajat Patidar, 5 Mahipal Lomror, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 8 Yash Dayal, 9 Karn Sharma, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Lockie Ferguson 12 Swapnil Singh

Chennai Super Kings

Moeen Ali has left, so Mitchell Santner is likely to get a place in the XI. Ruturaj Gaikwad is back to opening with Rachin Ravindra, with Ajinkya Rahane dropping to No. 3. In the last game, Daryl Mitchell was subbed out during the chase to get Sameer Rizvi in at No. 7. Considering Rahane's poor form, and with Moeen out, will they consider starting with Rizvi and have Mitchell at No. 3?

CSK probable XII: 1 Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), 2 Rachin Ravindra, 3 Daryl Mitchell, 4 Shivam Dube, 5 Ravindra Jadeja, 6 Sameer Rizvi, 7 MS Dhoni (wk), 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Tushar Deshpande, 12 Simarjeet Singh

Go RCBBBBBB

RCB vs CSK Head to head in IPL history

In head-to-head battle, Super Kings have a clear advantage as they have won 22 matches out of 33 played against Royal Challengers.

• Total matches played: 33
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru won: 10
• Chennai Super Kings won: 22
• No result: 1
• Abandoned: 0

RCB vs CSK head-to-head at M Chinnaswamy Stadium

• Total matches played: 10
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru won: 4
• Chennai Super Kings won: 5
• No result: 1
• Abandoned: 0

RCB vs CSK head-to-head in MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai

• Matches played: 9
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru won: 1
• Chennai Super Kings won: 8
• Abandoned: 0

HEAD TO HEAD LAST 5 MATCHES

CSK won by 6 wickets (with 8 balls remaining) 23-Mar-2024

CSK won by 8 runs 18-Apr-2023

RCB won by 13 runs 05-May-2022

CSK won by 23 runs 13-Apr-2022

CSK won by 6 wickets (with 11 balls remaining) 25-Sep-2021

In the spotlight - Faf du Plessis and Shivam Dube

Faf du Plessis is yet to make a big impact with the bat. He has three fifties, but has struggled for consistency overall, having scored just 367 runs at 28.23 in 13 games. He averages just 27 in the powerplay this year compared to 120 last year, when he had a great time. While he's not got the big scores, he's been striking at 205 in RCB's last seven games compared to 140 in the first six games. RCB will be hoping for a big score from their captain in the crucial game to go with another big hand from orange cap-holder Virat Kohli.

Shivam Dube's superb run in the first half of the season earned him a spot in India's T20 World Cup squad. However, since then, his form has dipped. Following ducks in back-to-back games against Punjab Kings, he scored 21 and 18 in the next two matches. He was taking spinners apart when the going was good. In three out of the last four games, he's gotten out trying to go after spinners.

Stats that matter

• Kohli has upped his powerplay game, from striking at 131 at an average of 62 in the first six matches to 193 at 98.50 in the last seven
• RCB are Dhoni's favourite opposition - he has scored 413 runs at an average of 82.6 against them at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the most against any team for him in the IPL
• Ruturaj Gaikwad averages 71 this season, which is the best for an opener in IPL 2024

RCB vs CSK Probable Best Players of the Match

Probable Best Batter: Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli: He could be the best batter in the upcoming game against Chennai Super Kings. With 661 runs in 13 matches, Kohli is currently the highest run-getter in the season and his performance will be crucial against CSK. He will be once again expected to score big, with this being a do-or-die fixture for RCB.

Probable Best Bowler: Tushar Deshpande

Tushar Deshpande: He could be the best bowler in the upcoming game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. With 16 wickets in 12 matches, the 29-year-old pacer has been a force to reckon with. Chennai will be hoping that the Mumbai-born takes them out of tricky situations at a batting-friendly pitch.

Batters To Watch(recent stats)

Virat Kohli, RCB

10 M • 480 Runs • 60 Avg • 161.07 SR

Faf du Plessis, RCB

10 M • 321 Runs • 32.1 Avg • 176.37 SR

Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK

10 M • 521 Runs • 74.43 Avg • 145.12 SR

Shivam Dube, CSK

10 M • 286 Runs • 35.75 Avg • 177.63 SR

Bowlers To Watch(recent stats)

Yash Dayal, RCB

9 M • 10 Wkts • 8.8 Econ • 19.3 SR

Mohammed Siraj, RCB

9 M • 10 Wkts • 9.09 Econ • 21 SR

Tushar Deshpande, CSK

9 M • 14 Wkts • 8.84 Econ • 13.71 SR

Ravindra Jadeja, CSK

10 M • 7 Wkts • 7.35 Econ • 29.14 SR

Don't forget to send your predictions for the match between CSK and RCB

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Originally posted by: Savera84

Stats that matter

• Kohli has upped his powerplay game, from striking at 131 at an average of 62 in the first six matches to 193 at 98.50 in the last seven
• RCB are Dhoni's favourite opposition - he has scored 413 runs at an average of 82.6 against them at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the most against any team for him in the IPL
• Ruturaj Gaikwad averages 71 this season, which is the best for an opener in IPL 2024

Rain forcast once again