Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be locking horns with each other in match 49 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 at the MCA Stadium in Pune on May 4. This is the game between both teams as in the reverse fixture, CSK having beaten RCB earlier in the season. Chennai is placed ninth on the points table heading into this match while RCB is fifth.
Chennai also holds an edge over Bangalore with MS Dhoni back as captain. From here on, CSK needs to win the remaining 5 matches. They are now very much alive as they face an RCB side that is low on confidence having lost their three previous matches. Momentum and form are favoring the men in yellow ahead of this crucial game.
ALOS READ: Match 49 (RCB vs CSK) – Probable XI And Fantasy XI
RCB, on the other hand, have lost all the momentum they gathered after losing the last three games. Their batting line-up seems to be a huge spot of bother. Virat Kohli returned to form in the last game against Gujarat Titans as he scored his first fifty of the season. Going ahead Kohli must keep his form going to give his side a chance to make it to the playoffs.
Both RCB and CSK have had veteran players who know exactly what to do in these scenarios and ahead of the much-awaited mid-week blockbuster, We take a look at the player battles to watch out for.
#1 Ravindra Jadeja vs Glenn Maxwell
Despite smashing a boundary against the tweaker, Glenn Maxwell was clean bowled by Ravindra Jadeja in their reverse fixture. Their duel in the middle overs will be crucial considering Jadeja has dismissed Maxwell seven out of the 13 encounters they have had in the IPL. Despite his breezy start in the previous game against Chennai, the Aussie was dismissed just as he looked to ease in. He has amassed 157 runs from seven matches, while Jadeja, with just five wickets in the season so far, will look to get a move on.
#2 Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Josh Hazlewood
Ruturaj Gaikwad played a phenomenal knock of 99 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in CSK’s previous game. Other masterful innings against RCB will be just what CSK will hope for. However, he has to negate the swing and bounce of former CSK pacer, Josh Hazlewood. The Aussie seamer has been in good form with his new franchise, having scalped 10 wickets from six matches. Hazlewood dismantling the CSK top order may tilt the result in Bangalore’s favor.
#3 Virat Kohli vs Maheesh Theekshana
Virat Kohli managed to score his first fifty of the season in IPL 2022, but his slow-paced innings were seen as one of the reasons for their loss to the Gujarat Titans (GT). Mahesh Theekshana was effective with the ball for Chennai in their last game against RCB, prizing out openers Faf du Plessis and Anuj Rawat. With Kohli now opening the innings, MS Dhoni might just be tempted to throw the ball to the Sri Lankan spinner and see if he can get rid of the new opening combo again.
