3 player battles to watch out for in RCB vs CSK, Match 68 of IPL 2024 ft. Swapnil Singh vs Rachin Ravindra
IPL 2024 heads to Bengaluru one last time. Home side Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for a place in the playoffs tonight. Both teams met in the opening game of the tournament, where CSK beat RCB by six wickets.
This time, the stakes are much higher. CSK have 14 points to their name and a net run rate of +0.528. However, they can miss out on a place in the playoffs if they suffer a defeat by more than 18 runs or concede the target inside 18 overs against RCB tonight.
RCB are seventh in the IPL 2024 points table with 12 points and a net run rate of +0.387. However, they can move straight to the fourth position if they beat CSK by 18 runs or chase the target within 18 overs.
With a playoff spot up for grabs, the RCB vs CSK match should prove to be the biggest match of IPL 2024's league stage. In this article now, we will look at the three player battles which may decide the fate of this high-stakes contest.
#1 Swapnil Singh vs Rachin Ravindra
In the first match of IPL 2024, Rachin Ravindra turned the game in Chennai Super Kings' favor with an excellent 15-ball 37 against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He smashed three fours and three sixes to ease the run-chase for his team.
Even in the previous game against the Rajasthan Royals, Ravindra's 18-ball 27 gave the Super Kings an upper hand in the run chase. CSK fans will expect a quickfire start from Ravindra tonight as well.
Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru supporters will have high hopes for Swapnil Singh. The uncapped all-rounder has proven to be a lucky charm for his franchise.
He has delivered breakthroughs for his team in the powerplay, and if he gets rid of Ravindra early, Singh can turn the game in RCB's favor.
#2 Yash Dayal vs Ruturaj Gaikwad
The conditions at M Chinnaswamy Stadium have supported the pacers a bit in recent IPL 2024 matches. Considering Chennai captain Ruturaj Gaikwad's struggles against left-arm pace, Bengaluru might hand the new ball to Yash Dayal.
Yash dismissed Ruturaj caught out in the first meeting between CSK and RCB at the MA Chidambaram Stadium as well. It will be interesting to see who wins this battle tonight.
#3 Virat Kohli vs Tushar Deshpande
Virat Kohli was dismissed caught behind by Ishant Sharma in his last innings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Chennai Super Kings pacer Tushar Deshpande will aim to do the same thing tonight.
Deshpande had a wicketless outing against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the season opener. He bowled an expensive spell of 0/47 in four overs. However, he has improved since then, and in the previous game, Deshpande returned with figures of 2/30 in four overs.
Dismissing Kohli early in the match will be the key to CSK's success. All eyes will be on Deshpande when he charges in with the new ball at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.