IPL 2018 - Match 24 - RCB vs CSK Preview

This is going to be a game of extremely high significance, for multiple reasons. This is not just an RCB vs CSK match, but a ‘guru-shishya’ match, or a ‘student-teacher’ match. This match will see Virat Kohli taking on MS Dhoni. India’s current captain taking on India’s most successful captain and one of the most intelligent cricket minds ever.

We’ve always said that Kohli always knows how to read every match situation. However, has he learnt to read matches better than MSD? Or is MSD still the ‘daddy’? Chennai will be looking to win and go to the top of the IPL 2018 points table, while RCB will want to get away from the bottom half, and learn to put together a string of wins.

Teams

Both teams have strengths and both have obvious weaknesses, some more than the other. If you look closely at the Chennai Super Kings, they have a good, in-form batting line up including Watson, Rayudu, Raina, and of course, Dhoni himself. However, Billings and du Plessis haven’t had much of a hit and neither has Dwayne Bravo, after that first game. RCB must then, obviously target 2-3 early wickets and their chances of winning will sky-rocket.

We have found a few weaknesses in the CSK batting line up, even though it is clearly their stronger suit. Their bowling has not been very great, with the possible exception of Dwayne Bravo. Harbhajan was swapped out for Karn Sharma, while Tahir was rested in the last game due to illness. However, he hasn’t been among the wickets so I won’t be surprised if he stays out of this game as well. The only positive I see in their bowling is Deepak Chahar, who swung the ball early on in the last game, for 3 wickets. If he picks one (or even two) of RCB’s big fish in the powerplay overs, CSK will be in the driver’s seat.

Now let’s look at the Bangalore franchise. We all know what their stronger department is – BATTING. But is that batting clicking? NO. While they do have names like de Kock and McCullum, it’s all been boiling down to the performances of two people – Kohli and AB de Villiers. They both have fifties and unbeaten nineties in IPL 2018, but no other batsman in the side has a fifty. Clearly, de Kock needs to contribute more if they want to keep winning.

They picked Manan Vohra to open the innings in the last game but he walked back to the pavillion in no time. Just like they gave Corey Anderson a second go, I’d like to see Kohli showing more faith and letting Vohra get another go. If Vohra could play a few shots and score a few boundaries in the powerplay overs, it takes off a lot of pressure from Kohli, de Kock and ABD. RCB never have good opening partnerships which puts added responsibilities to these big players.

With the ball, they aren’t the best but one positive would be Yuzvendra Chahal finding his rhythm in the last game. After a few bad games, he picked up 2 wickets in the last game and he can be used as an attacking option, especially against Raina, who he has dismissed four times in the Indian Premier League so far.

Overall

It’s going to be very difficult for RCB to beat a mighty team like Chennai Super Kings but technically speaking, Bangalore have no less resources than their opponents. Basically, it all boils down to the CSK bowlers against the RCB ‘big-three’ batsmen. I’m backing Royal Challengers Bangalore to show some character, step up and win this game.

IPL 2018 – Match 24 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings Preview

Teams

Overall

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