The 2024 edition of Indian Premier League is set to kick off with a blockbuster clash between the perennial rivals Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday, March 22, 2024. Chennai are the defending champions and will be eying a fast start to the campaign, while RCB are yet to win the title, but the new season will offer a fresh start to Virat and co.
Once all the pre-match formalities are done, all eyes will shift towards MS Dhoni and how how he takes to the field. It’s no secret that Thala, as CSK fans love to call him, only plays IPL cricket these days, and lack of action, together with age, might catch up to him, at least in the first few games. Virat will also be the center of attention. The 35-year-old skipped the recently concluded IND vs ENG test match series due to personal reasons. And fans will be keen to see how proactive the former RCB captain looks in the first match following a return.
CSK vs RCB Match Details
| Match | Chennai Super Kings & Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| Captains | MS Dhoni & Faf Du Plessis |
| Date & Time | March 22, Friday, 08:00 PM |
| Venue | MA Chidambaram Stadium |
MA Chidambaram Stadium Pitch Report
Historically, the pitch at MA Chidambaram Stadium has always favored spinners, and this is likely to be the case in the opening IPL 2024 match. The spinners have conceded just 7.04 runs per over compared to fast bowlers who concede 8.05 runs per over.
CSK vs RCB Head-To-Head Record
Chennai Super Kings absolutely boss the head-to-head record against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Both teams have faced each other 31 times, with Chennai winning on 20 occasions, RCB getting 10 wins, while one game ended in no-result. But RCB’s record looks even worse at the Chepauk Stadium, where they lost 7 times in 8 games.
| Matches Played | 31 |
| CSK Wins | 20 |
| RCB Wins | 10 |
| No Result | 01 |
Read: Sidhu set to return to IPL
CSK vs RCB Predicted Playing 11:
CSK: Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana, Shardul Thakur, Matheesha Pathirana
RCB: Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Cameron Green, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Suyyash Prabhudessai, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Mahipal Lomror, Mayank Dagar, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Siraj
CSK Probable highest scorer: Ruturaj Gaikwad
Gaikwad was crucial to CSK’s title triumph last season and that has to be the case this time around if the champions are to defend their crown. The young swashbuckling star can set the tone for MS Dhoni’s team.
RCB probable Highest Scorer: Virat Kohli
Look no further than the King Virat Kohli when it comes to RCB batting line-up. He holds the key for the visitors here. The superstar batsman has all the weapon in his armoury to silence the home fans inside the Chepauk Stadium.
CSK Probable Best Bowler: Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja is a player who can affect the match with bat and ball. And since the wicket here gives assistance to spinners, expect Jadeja to work his magic here and pick at least one wicket against RCB.
RCB Probable Best Bowler: Mohammad Siraj
When it comes to improvement, there’s no other bowler in the world who has raised his game more than Mohammad Siraj. The 30-year-old bowler is RCB’s go to weapon and he can terrorize CSK with the new ball.
RCB Probable X Factor: Glenn Maxwell
CSK Probable X Factor: Rachin Ravindra
CSK vs RCB Match Prediction
RCB’s weakest link is their bowling, and with no international pedigree spinner in their ranks, the middle orders could be the difference in this game. In addition, RCB have won just once at MA Chidambaram Stadium. Expect that trend to continue here.
Disclaimer: The above match prediction is based on the data and instincts of the writer. While picking players for your team, consider the points mentioned above, and make your own wise decision.
