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Match Details
Date: 25 April 2021
Time: 3:30 PM (IST)
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Live Ball-by-Ball Commentary: SportsTiger App
Preview:
Ladies and Gentlemen, put all your Sunday plans on hold as there is an IPL double header coming your way! It is Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first of the two matches on the day and given that this will be played at a Wankhede wicket, expect this to be an action-packed thriller. The two teams have arguably looked the best teams so far this season. While Bangalore have won all four of their matches so far and are the table toppers, Chennai have won three on the trot after losing their first match and are sitting firmly on the second place. Now on Sunday then, the stage is set for the two heavyweights on a neutral venue where the stroke makers will fancy their chances of dwarfing any opposition total. But will the 3:30 pm (IST) start have an impact on the pitch or will it behave the same throughout the 40 overs and mediate a battle of nerves for the two points at stake? We shall find out when the action begins!
Team News
Chennai Super Kings:
Chennai Super Kings have a characteristic way of doing things and they usually stick with the same player and give him a longer rope. Their faith in these players often pays rich dividends as was evident with Ruturaj Gaikwad finally getting some runs under his belt after a series of low scores in the first three matches. They are likely to stick with the same overseas combination of Sam Curran, Moeen Ali, Faf du Plessis and Lungi Ngidi. Dwayne Bravo was said to be rested in the last game but Ngidi bowled well in his absence and they could stick with him.
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
Royal Challengers Bangalore tried Kane Richardson in their XI in the last game and could stay with the winning combination at the same venue. With Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal back in form and the likes of Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers to follow, that batting order looks all the more threatening than ever. Not expecting too many changes in the Bangalore squad either as they are running like a well-oiled machinery.
Head to Head (Overall)
Matches played: 27
Chennai Super Kings: 17
Royal Challengers Bangalore: 9
No Result: 1
Key Players
Moeen Ali:
Moeen Ali has been a great value addition to the CSK squad. Not only with the bat at number 3, has he delivered a few vital runs, he has been even impressive whenever he has been asked to roll his arms over. He will yet again hold the key to Chennai batting and give them the "spark" which evaded them last year. Watch out for Ali in this game.
Virat Kohli:
Although the limelight was stolen by Player of the Match Devdutt Padikkal in Bangalore's previous match against Rajasthan Royals, King Kohli played a superb innings himself and may have got himself into form. Once Kohli gets going, its difficult for any opposition to get him out and Bangalore would hope that their skipper continues from where he left the other day and takes the attack to the opposition.
Deepak Chahar:
Deepak Chahar has been bowling dream spells for fun at the Wankhede Stadium. His performances have not let side miss the form of Shardul Thakur who has not only been expensive but hasn't been amongst the wickets either. He would look to continue his form and in his words "set the tone" for the rest of the innings with his tight overs in the Powerplay.
Probable Playing XI
Chennai Super Kings:
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Sam Curran, Shardul Thakur, Lungi Ngidi, Deepak Chahar
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
Virat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Shahbaz Ahmed, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers (wk), Washington Sundar, Kyle Jamieson, Kane Richardson, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal
