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THE TIMES OF INDIA | Mar 22, 2024, 16:17:37 IST
CSK vs RCB IPL 2024 Live Score: As the temperatures soar in Chennai, the buzz around the MA Chidambaram Stadium increases. It’s that time of the year when Chennaiites start believing that anything is possible. On Thursday, there was a dash of extra spice added to the sense of anticipation around the venue with MS Dhoni deciding to hand on the leadership duties to Ruturaj Gaikwad.
No other team has owned the IPL — not even Mumbai Indians — the way Chennai Super Kings have over the years. Five titles in 14 years of participation and 12 last-four entries — they are truly the kings of this competition. And when you’ve Royal Challengers Bengaluru as your first opponent in your own den, there are even more reasons to feel supremely confident about a good start. Against RCB, CSK have an almost lopsided (20-10) head-to-head record.
Given the balance of the two sides, it will need a huge effort from the visitors to turn the tables on Dhoni’s devils.
It’s not that RCB are pushovers. On paper, they have a power-packed batting line-up in skipper Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Glen Maxwell, Cameron Green and Dinesh Karthik. But can they live up to the challenge that CSK bowlers will present on a track where the ball is bound to stop, and occasionally turn, a bit?
While the RCB batters can still make a fight of it if they have a good day, the CSK bowling attack could be a little too superior. Their No. 1 pacer Matheesha Pathirana isn’t available due to a hamstring injury, but the roster consisting of Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Mustafizur Rahman and the three experienced spinners has immense depth, especially at Chepauk.
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