IPL 2019: Match 39, RCB vs CSK - Predicted Playing XI, Preview, Head to Head, and Key Players
The next key match for the Royal Challengers Bangalore will be against Chennai Super Kings at Bangalore. It would be a payback time for RCB as they lost against CSK in the opening encounter.
Head to Head Overall Stats: Chennai has clearly dominated RCB in IPL encounter. They have won 15 games out of 23 which have been played between these two. Whereas, RCB managed to win only seven games.
Head to Head at Chinnaswamy Stadium: These two met eight times at this venue. Chennai won four times and Bangalore won three times with one game which ended in no result.
Previous IPL 2019 face-off: Last time when these two met in the opening game of this season, RCB bundled out for 70 runs on the tough Chennai wicket. CSK chased down the target without much issue.
Chennai Super Kings
CSK is having yet another dominating season and sitting pretty at the top of the table with seven wins.
Batting
Key Batsmen: Faf du Plessis, MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina
Du Plessis and Dhoni have been consistent performers in this season. They will again hold the key against Bangalore on this Sunday. The rest have put up a below par performances so far in this season. Raina, who struck form against KKR is expected to do well in the next encounter.
Bowling
Key Bowlers: Imran Tahir and Deepak Chahar
Imran Tahir has taken 15 wickets in this season and is placed at second position in the leading wicket takers' list. He has been regularly giving breakthroughs to Chennai in almost all the games. On the other hand, Chahar the only fast bowler to shine for them in this season. He has been inconsistent but is expected to continue his good show.
Expected Playing XI
Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (C, WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Imran Tahir.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Bangalore is having a horror tournament this year. With their poor start, every game will now be a knock out game for them. So they need to put up a good performance to beat the strong Chennai Super Kings.
Batting
Key Batsmen: Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Moeen Ali
Whenever RCB won a game their batsman had a solid performance in that game. Virat Kohli, who is fresh off of his century against KKR, would love to put another such performance. ABD who sat out in last game due to injury is expected to make a return. He was the star when RCB beat Punjab.
Moeen Ali has scored three half centuries in this season including the match winning one against KKR. He looks in a good touch and his form is a key for the home team against Chennai.
Bowling
Key Bowlers: Dale Steyn and Yuzvendra Chahal
The South African veteran made his comeback to RCB after nine years. He showed his capabilities in his first game of the season. His arrival would have boosted the franchise as they are experiencing nightmares with the bowlers.
Chahal who had a below par game against KKR is expected to do well at the Chinnaswamy stadium. He has a decent record on this ground. So he will have to come up with his top performance to keep his team in the play-off race.
Expected Playing XI
Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers, Parthiv Patel (W), Moeen Ali, Marcus Stoinis, Washington Sundar, Pawan Negi, Dale Steyn, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Yuzvendra Chahal.
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