Match 1: CSK v RCB Fantasy Preview

Its that time of the year and for the next 50 days or so, we are going to have jam-packed action. Yes, IPL is back.

The defending champions Chennai Super Kings will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the inaugural match at their “Anbu Den” Chepauk.

It’s crazy to think that this is just the second match at the Chepauk Stadium in literally four years or so and of course, everyone is happy to be back here.

Let’s look into the combination of Chennai Super Kings. The defending champions, unlike other teams, have a lot of match-winners, thanks to their experience. With Dhoni leading the side, he knows what works and what doesn’t.

The team will open with Rayudu and Watson in the first match as Faf du Plessis and Imran Tahir is on national duty. As usual, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni and Kedhar Jadhav will occupy the middle-order. Coming to the lower middle-order, We might see Mitchell Santner playing his first match alongside Sam Billings or David Willey. Dwayne Bravo, Ravi Jadeja and Deepak Chahar will come in next followed by Shardul Thakur.

PROBABLE XI:
Watson, Rayudu, Raina, Dhoni(C&WK), Jadhav, Willey/ Tahir, Bravo, Jadeja, Chahar, Santner/ Billings/ Harbhajan, Thakur/Mohit.

Royal Challengers Bangalore:
Royal Challengers Bangalore will certainly open with Virat Kohli on whom the team is super dependent on. Parthiv Patel will accompany Kohli who will be followed by AB de Villiers. As far as Middle-order is concerned, Shimron Hetmyer will make his debut in the IPL and Shivan Dube on whom they cashed a lot on will get a game here as well.

Since the Chepauk Stadium will assist spinners, we might see Pawan Negi or Moeen Ali assist their frontline spinner Chahal and the Tamil Nadu boy Washington Sundar. Umesh Yadav who was among the wickets last year for RCB will have to play a crucial role along with another pacer who probably will be Siraj. Southee and Grandhomme might miss this game since they would have landed late and Klaasen might play today. Nathan Coulter Nile and Marcus Stoinis will not play due to national duty.

Probable XI:
Patel(WK), Kohli (C), de Villiers, Hetmyer, Ali, Dube, Sundar/Negi, Southee/Grandhomme/Klaasen, Umesh, Siraj/ Saini and Chahal.