The Indian Premier League 2019 is all set to begin on March 23 in Chennai. This year, the league has been pushed ahead of its usual start keeping the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in mind, which will commence from May 30 in England. The Lok Sabha Elections gave BCCI a healthy headache before announcing the schedule of league matches as the board was in the mood to host the complete IPL in India only.
The opening fixture is scheduled between defending champion Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium. Both teams have their share of rivalry in the past but Chennai keeps a hold against RCB and won more matches. Last year, both teams fought twice and CSK came victorious on both occasions.
Also Read: Who will be RCB’s X factor in IPL 2019?
Royal Challengers Bangalore
The Bengaluru-based franchise is yet to win their maiden IPL title despite having some of the greatest in their rank. Virat Kohli is with RCB since the inception of this team and his dream to touch the silverware has not come true yet. But, could this be the year of RCB? Well, only time will tell.
Kohli is in great form and is expected to lead the team from the front once again. South Africa’s talismanic batsman AB de Villiers will play his first IPL after retiring from the International cricket and will definitely grab the eyeballs. West Indian Shimron Hetmyer will strengthen the middle-order along with Heinrich Klaasen and Shivam Dube while Moeen Ali will slot in as the third overseas player.
Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and Nathan Coulter-Nile will not be available for the first three games. Colin de Grandhomme and Time Southee were expected to play in this condition, but Kiwi players will leave for IPL on March 22 after attending the annual New Zealand Cricket awards. Hence, both De Grandhomme and Southee will not play in the IPL opener. So it will be an all Indian bowling line-up for RCB.
Probable XI: Virat Kohli (C), Parthiv Patel (WK), AB de Villiers, Shimron Hetmyer, Heinrich Klaasen, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Yuzvendra Chahal, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Siraj, Kulwant Khejroliya
Also Read: Who will be the X factor of CSK?
Chennai Super Kings
The Yellow Army will begin their title-defending campaign against arch-rival RCB. Chennai looks more settled than RCB on papers. However, a late setback before the IPL in from of Lungi Ngidi left them searching for his replacement. The South African pacer sustained a side strain which ruled him out of the IPL 2019. David Willy is expected to feature as a foreign pacer in the lineup.
The batting lineup is similar to what it was in the last year. Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis will open the batting while Suresh Raina will come at number three. Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav will follow the order.
Probable XI: Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (C/WK), Kedar Jadhav, Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja, David Willy, Harbhajan Singh, Shardul Thakur/Deepak Chahar/Mohit Sharma
