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. 

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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.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

Harshal Patel has found some success against the likes of MS Dhoni (dismissed him twice) and Ambati Rayudu (dismissed him five times) in the IPL.  However, by taking pace off, Harshal dismissed the CSK batter quite a few times, with the fielder stationed at short midwicket/midwicket grabbing the catches. On another note, RCB has been the best bowling side in the middle overs as they have scalped 34 wickets at an average of 18.53. 

Probable XI: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis(c), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik(w), Shahbaz Ahmed, Mahipal Lomror, Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj and Josh Hazlewood

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

CSK has generally deployed spinners to control the flow of runs against RCB. The point can be further illustrated by the fact that CSK’s spinners have accounted for 31 wickets at an average of 16 against RCB since 2018. Ravindra Jadeja could be the go-to man for CSK as he has accounted for the wickets of Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik, and Virat Kohli 7, 3, and 3 times respectively in the IPL. Jadeja, though, hasn’t been in good touch in this IPL, picking up only 5 wickets so far.

Probable XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Robin Uthappa, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni(c/w), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo/Mitchell Santner, Dwaine Pretorius, Maheesh Theekshana, Simarjeet Singh, Mukesh Choudhary

Fantasy XI suggestion 1:

MS Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik (vc), Virat Kohli, Devon Conway (c), Rajat Patidar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mukesh Choudhary

Fantasy XI suggestion 2:

Dinesh Karthik, Robin Uthappa, Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mukesh Choudhary (vc)