RCB vs CSK. Virat Kohli vs MS Dhoni. Had it been any other season, this clash would’ve been hyped more than a daily soap and promoted like the next big Bollywood blockbuster But this season? It’s less of a firecracker and more of a damp squib.
On one side, you have the Royal Challengers, confidently knocking on the playoff door with one polished boot already across the line. On the other, the so-called Super Kings — who have had a season they’d probably want to erase from memory. The crown has slipped, the throne is vacant, and CSK is officially out of the race for the top four.
It may not be an all-out war anymore — more like a friendly neighborhood scuffle — but the mini battles are still worth tuning in for.
Virat Kohli vs Khaleel Ahmed
Sledging Kohli? In India? That’s a bold move. Khaleel Ahmed went full daredevil in the last match and even dared to glare at Kohli himself. Expect sparks, intense stares, and maybe some top-tier drama when these two face off again.
Rajat Patidar vs Noor Ahmad
One is a certified spinner destroyer, the other is CSK’s leading wicket-taker. Rajat Patidar seems to have a PhD in launching spinners out of the park, while Noor Ahmad has been weaving spin magic for fun. This battle promises to be spicy. Bring your popcorn. Maybe even a fire extinguisher.
RCB may have won 2 of the last 3 meetings between these sides, but don’t forget — their home record this season at Chinnaswamy is as disappointing as a heartbreak playlist. They’ve lost 3 out of 4 games there.
Still, given the way CSK has fumbled this season, don’t be shocked if RCB finally improves their home form tonight.
RCB and CSK full squads:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad
Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Swastik Chikara, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Philip Salt, Manoj Bhandage, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Liam Livingstone, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Mohit Rathee, Abhinandan Singh
Chennai Super Kings
Ayush Mhatre, Shaik Rasheed, Andre Siddarth C, Rahul Tripathi, Devon Conway, MS Dhoni, Vansh Bedi, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda, Anshul Kamboj, Rachin Ravindra, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Sam Curran, Matheesha Pathirana, Shreyas Gopal, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Dewald Brevis, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed