Chennai, Mar 22 (UNI) Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the toss and elected to bat first against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2024 opener at MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Friday.
Faf du Plessis, the captain of RCB, expressed confidence in their decision to bat first, noting that the conditions seemed favorable for batting. He acknowledged the support of Chennai fans but emphasized his commitment to RCB.
Du Plessis also spoke positively about their coach Andy Flower, describing him as a seasoned campaigner whose experience would benefit the team.
Regarding the team’s auction and combination, he mentioned their satisfaction with the bowling resources and the inclusion of players like Alzarri Joseph.
On the other side, Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK captain, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to play in the opener and emphasized the importance of focusing on his performance rather than trying to fill anyone else’s shoes.
Gaikwad mentioned that he was informed about his captaincy role a week prior, with hints from former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Despite missing players like Devon Conway and Matheesha Pathirana, Gaikwad expressed confidence in the newcomers, Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, to fill their roles effectively.
He also provided insights into the pitch conditions, anticipating a hard surface that would hold up well for the second innings.
Gaikwad concluded by mentioning the overseas and domestic players in the lineup, highlighting Sameer Rizvi’s debut for the team.
History seems to favor CSK at Chepauk with RCB’s only win at this venue occurring in the inaugural season of the IPL. The memory of the 2019 IPL opener, where RCB was bundled out for just 70 runs, adds to the intimidating aura of Chepauk for the visiting team.
Considering the head-to-head record between RCB and CSK, the hosts hold a significant advantage, winning 20 out of the 31 clashes.
The historical context, along with Chepauk’s reputation as a spin-friendly pitch, doesn’t seem to bode well for RCB, especially in terms of the tools they have at their disposal for such conditions.
However, the unpredictability of the IPL is well-known. RCB might have some surprises up their sleeves, making the match an intriguing prospect from the start of the tournament.
Squads
Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Ruturaj Gaikwad(c), Rachin Ravindra, Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Ravindra Jadeja, Sameer Rizvi, MS Dhoni(w), Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana, Mustafizur Rahman, Tushar Deshpande
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Faf du Plessis(c), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik(w), Anuj Rawat, Karn Sharma, Alzarri Joseph, Mayank Dagar, Mohammed Siraj.
