For the past few years, every Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fixture has come with the backdrop of the same question: Is this the last Kohli-Dhoni showdown? The question gains more traction in the reverse fixtures. While every year fans hope to witness both players share the field once again next year, simply on sentimental grounds, this time, though, they would want the same to happen to give MS Dhoni the farewell he deserves, which is certainly not one where his team is stuck at the bottom.
CSK have had a season to forget. They have only won two games and became the first team to be disqualified from the tournament. It’s also the first time they will end outside the top four for two years running. So, in terms of stakes involved, the game wouldn’t offer much, at least not to CSK. Though RCB can make their way back to the top and further bolster their chances of reaching the next stage.
Team Overview:
Phil Salt missed RCB’s game against Delhi Capitals (DC) with fever and was replaced by Jacob Bethell. Rajat Patidar said on Friday that he was not sure about Salt’s availability for the CSK game, but RCB would hope he returns, particularly when he had started looking in good touch. The tournament is at the juncture where the Orange Cap and Purple Cap are playing musical chairs. Virat Kohli, who ended the last RCB game with the Orange Cap, is now 61 runs away from it. Also, Kohli’s form has been pertinent to his team’s wins, especially in the run chases.
In each of RCB’s successful pursuits, Kohli scored a half-century. So, another in this game will not only put RCB in a dominant position but also help him get back to the top of the run-scorers chart. The RCB captain, Rajat Patidar, however, seems to be struggling under the weight of captaincy. He has only two half-centuries this season, one of which came against CSK in the reverse fixture. In the bowling department, Josh Hazlewood, interestingly, has been the best of the big three Aussies to have maintained his form even on the tournament’s batting-friendly surfaces. He is just a wicket away from grabbing the Purple Cap off Prasidh Krishna.
And although he might not get enough acknowledgment for his contributions, Tim David has done wonders for RCB this season. He averages 92 while striking at a high 192.
CSK, on the other hand, do not have any such writings in gold illuminating their lineup. Except, maybe, Noor Ahmad and Khaleel Ahmed, both of whom, in sheer contrast to their team’s performance, are fourth and fifth on the most wickets list this. Sam Curran scored a brilliant 88 in the last match, but one could argue his coming is far too late. CSK are already out of the tournament, but what they can do is use the games to scout for new talents for next season and give a deserving farewell to their veteran players.
Head-to-Head Matches:
Both RCB and CSK have played 35 games against each other, and the latter clearly dominate the former. CSK have won 22 such games, while RCB only have 12 wins. One game ended without any result.
Weather and Pitch Report:
All of what could happen in this game comes down to whether or not rain permits it. Bengaluru is in early monsoon right now, and the forecast for Saturday does not look too promising. The last game here was also disturbed by rain. Generally, the venue’s surface offers a nice blend of assistance for both batters and bowlers. RCB did reach a 200-plus score here, but that was the only such breach this season. Expect the total to linger somewhere around 170-180.
Prediction:
If it’s really going to be the last Kohli-Dhoni face-off, both teams would want to seal the memories with a win, though CSK’s chances of doing so are astronomical.
Where to Watch:
India: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar
UK: Sky Sports, SkyGo
USA: Willow TV
Australia: Kayo TV, FoxTel Go
Bangladesh: T Sports, Toffee app
New Zealand: Sky Sports NZ
Afghanistan: ATN
South Africa: SuperSport
Sri Lanka: Dialog
MENA: Cricbuzz
