BENGALURU: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been so ruthlessly efficient this season, especially away from home, that die-hard fans might believe they are living a dream. With their previous win against DC, Rajat Patidar and his men made history, becoming the first IPL team ever to win six consecutive away matches.
Despite three successive losses at their home ground — a situation they remedied somewhat with a win over RR in their last game — RCB could close in on a playoff berth when they take on ousted CSK on Saturday.
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The contrast in the fortunes of the two sides beggars belief. RCB, perennial also-rans, find themselves among the table-toppers, while five-time champions Super Kings are at the bottom, their chances of making the cut having vanished with a loss to Punjab Kings on Wednesday.
Who’s that IPL player?
One might point to last year’s mega auction for the change in dynamics. RCB have picked players who have delivered while Chennai have relied on old hands who find themselves chasing a game that has moved on.
And yet, a match between these two sides has been so aggressively contested that nothing can be taken for granted. It’s also a marquee contest, which sends people into a tizzy looking for coveted seats at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Last dance?
One of the main reasons for the frenzy over the past few years is the uncertainty surrounding MS Dhoni’s future in the competition. The prospect of watching Dhoni in action for one last time and the possible end of the Dhoni vs Virat Kohli IPL face-offs adds an element of drama to the contest.
Likely XIIs:
RCB: Phil Salt/Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Yash Dayal.
CSK: Shaik Rasheed, Ayush Mhatre, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni (C & WK), Deepak Hooda, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana.
