Match Overview
- Venue: M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Pitch Report: Spin-friendly with early bounce, slows down later. Average first innings score: 160-170. Batting first has a 46/78 win record in IPL here.
- Weather: Clear, 28-30°C, ~75% humidity, possible dew aiding the chasing side.
Team Updates
- CSK: After beating MI by 6 wickets, their spin attack (Noor Ahmad, Jadeja, Ashwin) and top-order (Gaikwad, Ravindra) are firing. Khaleel Ahmed impressed in Pathirana’s absence.
- RCB: Post a 7-wicket win vs KKR, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli led the batting, with Josh Hazlewood shining. Jitesh Sharma adds middle-order depth.
Probable Playing XI
- CSK: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Sam Curran, Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed
- RCB: Phil Salt (wk), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Tim David, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma
Fantasy XI Team
- Wicketkeepers:
- Phil Salt (RCB): Explosive opener, impactful vs KKR (exact figures unavailable but key in the chase), guaranteed powerplay runs. A safer bet than Dhoni for batting points.
- Jitesh Sharma (RCB): Middle-order dynamo, strike rate ~140 in IPL, could finish innings with flair or capitalize on CSK spinners.
- Batsmen:
- Virat Kohli (RCB): 59* off 36 vs KKR, 1053 runs vs CSK in 32 IPL innings – the cornerstone pick. (Captain)
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK): 53 off 26 vs MI, dominates Chepauk (706 runs in 15 innings). (Vice-Captain)
- Rachin Ravindra (CSK): 65* off 45 vs MI, thrives vs RCB, perfect for this pitch.
- All-Rounders:
- Ravindra Jadeja (CSK): Spin maestro at home (35 wickets, 436 runs in 35 games), lethal vs RCB.
- Krunal Pandya (RCB): Economical spinner, handy bat, suits Chepauk’s conditions.
- Bowlers:
- Noor Ahmad (CSK): 4/18 vs MI, deadly on turning tracks, could dismantle RCB’s middle order.
- Ravichandran Ashwin (CSK): Chepauk king, likely to exploit RCB’s spin struggles.
- Josh Hazlewood (RCB): Swing and death-over precision, took wickets vs KKR, threat to CSK’s top order.
- Khaleel Ahmed (CSK): 3 wickets vs MI, early swing could trouble RCB openers.
Key Picks & Strategy
- Captain: Virat Kohli – Unmatched consistency and big-game pedigree vs CSK make him the top multiplier.
- Vice-Captain: Ruturaj Gaikwad – Recent form and home dominance ensure high points potential.
- Differential Picks:
- Jitesh Sharma: Risky but rewarding if he gets 20-30 quick runs.
- Noor Ahmad: Underpicked spinner with huge wicket-taking upside.
- Toss Factor: Batting first is statistically better (46/78 wins), but dew could help chasers. Pick CSK spinners if RCB bats first; load up on RCB batsmen (Salt, Kohli) if CSK chases.
- Why not Dhoni?: Dhoni batted at 7 vs MI and didn’t face a ball (chase completed early).
Prediction
CSK’s spin-heavy attack and 21-11 record vs RCB give them a slight edge at Chepauk, but RCB’s top-order (Salt, Kohli) could counter if they handle spin well. With Salt and Jitesh, the XI leans on RCB’s batting depth, balanced by CSK’s bowling strength.