Squads –
RCB –
Virat Kohli(c), AB de Villiers, Yuzvendra Chahal, Devdutt Padikkal, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Shahbaz Ahmed, Kane Richardson, Pavan Deshpande, Glenn Maxwell, Sachin Baby, Rajat Patidar, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Kyle Jamieson, Dan Christian, Suyesh Prabhudessai, K.S. Bharat, Tim David, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, George Garton, Akash Deep
CSK –
Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(C & WK), Narayan Jagadeesabn, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KM Asif, Karn Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Deepak Chahar, Faf du Plessis, Shardul Thakur, Mitchell Santner, Dwayne Bravo, Lungi Ngidi, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Imran Tahir, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali, K Gowtham, Cheteshwar Pujara, M.Harisankar Reddy, K.Bhagath Varma, C Hari Nishaanth, R Sai Kishore
Team News –
RCB –
– RCB lost their last game against KKR which was a very big defeat considering the Playoffs scenario. They however are still in very good situation and just need to win 3 of their 6 games for a playoff spot.
– Team has made a lot of changes in their foreign options. RCB has brought in Wanindu Hasaranga for Adam Zampa along with his country man Dushmantha Chameera for Daniel Sams. George Garton has also been named as a replacement for Kane Richardson. Young Tim David has replaced kiwi opener Finn Allen.
– Virat Kohli will open along with Devdutt Padikkal. Paddikal has been in red hot form in Syed Mushtaq as well as Vijay Hazare trophy and scored his maiden ton last 3nd game against RR but failed to score in other 2. Virat was looking slightly rusty in the 1st phase but is a big player and can score anyday.
– M Azharuddin/Kona Bharat will bat at 1 down. All are excellent hitters and have been excellent in the nets. Bharat got chance in last game but wasn’t able to time the ball. Azhar scored a brilliant 50 in 1 of the practice games.
– Glenn Maxwell will bat at 2 down followed by AB De Villiers at 5. Maxwell has been brilliant in the 1st 3 games so far being team’s highest run getter but failed to score big in other 4 games. AB scored a ton in the practice game recently but out on duck last game.
– Wanindu Hasaranga, Kyle Jamieson along with Shahbaz Ahmed will play the role of Allrounders. Shahbaz can also bat in top 3 as he did in few games in 1st phase if plays.
– Yuzi Chahal , Wanindu Hasaranga and Shahbaz Ahmed/Sachin Baby will handle the spin section. Glenn Maxwell can assist them with his off spin.
– Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammad Siraj will be the pace attack of RCB. Harshal patel is the purple cap holder for this season.
CSK –
– Chennai Super Kings the giants of IPL lost just 2 of their 8 games played in 2nd place in the points table. They won against MI last game.
– Ambati Rayudu suffered a blow on his hand last game while batting and is very much in doubt for this game. Krishnappa Gowtham can replace him.
– Expected four foreign players will be Moeen Ali, Faf du Plessis, Josh Hazlewood/DJ Bravo, Sam Curran.
– Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis will open for CSK. Rutu has been in excellent touch and Played am excellent knock of 88 in last game against MI.
– Moeen Ali will bat at 1 down. Moeen has been excellent from the very 1st game scoring runs with a SR of 150+ and also has been very effective with the ball. He was out on duck last game.
– Suresh Raina will bat at 2 down. Raina has been excellent since his return scoring runs at a good pace. He has scored 126 runs in 8 games so far.
– Ambati Rayudu will bat next at 3 down followed by MS Dhoni. Jadeja was promoted in both last few games and played some good knocks.
– CSK bat’s quite deep even Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar can hit the ball big.
– Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali will be the spin options with the team. Suresh Raina can bowl a over of 2 if needed.
– Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Sam Curran and DJ Bravo/Josh Hazlewood will be the pace attack of CSK
Probable XI –
RCB –
Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, M Azharuddin/Kona Bharat, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers(wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, Kyle Jamieson, Shahbaz Ahmed/Sachin Baby, Mohammad Siraj, Yuzi Chahal, Harshal Patel
CSK –
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf Du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu/K Gowtham, MS Dhoni (C & WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, DJ Bhavo/Josh Hazlewood, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar.
Pitch Report –
Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
The surface here at Sharjah Cricket Stadium has got good carry and bounce. The Batsman will love to play here due to the smaller boundaries. The par score on this wicket is 160-170.
Team Blueprint –
WK –
AB De Villiers ( 3 down + wk, no intro needed, one of the best t20 batsman ever played, duck last game )
M Azharuddeen ( 1 down, excellent Striker of the ball, 137(54b) against Mumbai in Syed Mushtaq trophy recently, Must try if plays)
MS Dhoni( 3/4 down, RHB + wk, no intro needed, one of the best finisher ever, very experienced and has a excellent Average of against RCB)
BAT –
Virat Kohli( Open, highest run getter in IPL, 466 runs last season, Virat Averages 56 at the Sharjah ground, Must have any day)
Devdutt Padikkal ( Open, LHB, 473 runs last season, 4 100s in Vijay Hazare season recently, red hot form, 101* last 3rd game, Must have)
Suresh Raina( 2 down, LHB, top 3 highest run getter in IPL history, 655 runs against RCB in 28 games, Must have)
Faf Du Plessis( Open, RHB, excellent season last year with 449 runs 13 games, red hot form, 95*, 50, 56, 50 last 4 games, Must , futness issues)
Ambati Rayudu( 3 down, RHB, was 2nd highest scorer of team last season with 359 runs, 72*(27b) last 2nd game against MI, experienced player, Must try in GL)
Robin Uthappa( Open, RHB, very experienced, red hot form with 377 runs in Vijay Hazare recently, 90+ runs in practice game, can be a good pick if opens)
Ruturaj Gaikwad( Open, RHB, very talented youngster, 4 games 214 runs last season with 2 50s, 284 runs in 8 games this season, 88 runs against MI last game)
Glenn Maxwell ( 2 down, RHB + part time off spin, 39, 59, 78 in 1st 3 games till now, red hot form, Must have)
Rajat Patidar ( 1 down, young talent, scored excellent 54, 104 in 2 practice games recently, can strike the ball big, 31(22b), 31(30b) last 2 games played )
ALL –
Dan Christian ( Medium pacer + RHB, very good hitter of the ball, loads of experience, 5172 runs + 259 t20 Wickets, 272 runs + 15 Wickets in BBL2020, bowling 1-2 overs)
Wanindu Hasaranga ( Leggie + RHB, 2nd in ICC t20 rankings, excellent allrounder, Must have )
Ravi Jadeja( Slow left arm + LHB, Excellent form, 3 Wickets + 64 runs last 2nd game against RCB last times they faces, Must have)
Moeen Ali( Off spin + LHB, 1 down, SR of 140 in t20s 36, 46/1w, 26/3w, 25, 15(8b), 58/1w in last 6 of 7 games this IPL, coming after a good Hundred league, Must have)
K Gowtham( Off spin + RHB, good hitter of the ball, SR of 164 in T20s with 568 runs and 41 Wickets, can be crusial pick if plays)
M Santner( slow left arm, among top 10 t20 bowler’s, less chances of playing)
Shahbaz Ahmed ( 1 down/lower order, Slow left arm + LHB, 95(48b) in practice game 2nd , 3 Wickets in 2nd game, can be an excellent pick for 8cr if plays )
BOWL –
Yuzi Chahal ( Leggie, highest wicket taker for RCB overall and also in last season, 124 IPL Wickets, 5 Wickets in 8
games this season )
Mohammad Siraj( Right Arm fast, has been on his peak form recently, 11 Wickets in 9 games last season, 3 Wickets last 2nd game, Must have )
Harshal Patel ( Right Arm medium fast, will be bowling in death overs, 17 Wickets in 8 games so far, wicketless last game, Must have)
DJ Bravo( Right Arm medium, one of the best death bowlers, 23 runs + 3 Wickets last game, excellent pick to have )
Imran Tahir( Leg spin, veteran very experienced with 400+ t20 Wickets, can be an excellent choice to have in UAE, didn’t played last game)
Shardul Thakur( Right Arm medium fast, hit the deck bowler, 8 Wickets in recently concluded t20 series against Eng, very good form in test matches )
Deepak Chahar ( Right Arm medium fast, known for his swing, 10 Wickets in 7 games, 2 4 Wicket hauls this IPL , Must have)
Navdeep Saini ( Right Arm fast, can touch upto 150ks, 3/40 , 2/33 in 2 practice games recently)
Kyle Jamieson ( Right Arm fast medium + excellent Striker of the ball, 7ft tall, 60+ T20 Wickets in 27 innings + 250+ runs at a very good SR of 140, very expensive with ball last game )
C/VC –
RCB –
Virat Kohli
AB De Villiers
Glenn Maxwell
Devdutt Padikkal
CSK –
Moeen Ali
Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ravindra Jadeja