The State of Play
Royal Challengers Bengaluru host the Chennai Super Kings in a do-or-die match in the IPL 2024.
Both teams are still in the hunt for the play-offs after a remarkable comeback from RCB, who started the season poorly but have won each of their last five matches.
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They sit sixth in the table with 12 points, while their opponents CSK are two places and two points above them.
The pair have faced each other 32 times in IPL history, including the curtain-raiser for the 2024 campaign.
It was a Super Kings victory then and the away side have traditionally been more dominant in this fixture, winning 21 times.
But it is all to play for with the table so tight and it is set to be an interesting Saturday with thunderstorms and heavy rain expected.
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Both RCB and CSK come into the weekend off the back of victories.
The Challengers beat the Delhi Capitals thanks to an excellent innings from Rajat Patidar, Will Jacks and Cameron Green, who tallied 125 runs between them.
They set a total score of 187 for their opponents to chase and thanks to some super bowling from Yash Dayal – who picked up three wickets – as well as Green and Lockie Ferguson, RCB won comfortably by 47 runs.
The performance earned praise from West Indies legend Brian Lara, who is backing RCB to beat CSK and qualify for the play-offs.
He said: “Well, it is not just form. I mean RCB has a five-match winning streak right now and no other team has done that this year.
“They have Virat Kohli, who is in hot form. But the most important thing is that other players are also playing their roles well which is important for the team’s success. So I think form is one thing.
“RCB has never won the IPL and they seem to be hungry to win it.
Warm up today, fireworks tomorrow. 💥#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/l999CXMJn5
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 17, 2024
“This match will help them reach the playoffs.
“This is a great opportunity, the team’s form is good, there is hunger to win and senior players like Du Plessis, Siraj and Virat are also performing well.
“I believe RCB’s momentum as we have seen till now, it will keep taking them forward in this tournament.
“I have seen them playing live, against CSK, they will definitely win.”
It will not be easy for RCB to beat the Super Kings, who are fresh off a win themselves.
The Rajasthan Royals were the unfortunate victims of a fantastic innings from captain Ruturaj Gaikwad.
He hit 42 from 41 balls and played a big part in helping his side chase down 142 set by RR.
Simarjeet Singh and Tushar Deshpande were the standout bowlers, picking up five wickets between them and it was the work done on the field that really put CSK in the driving seat.
Expected line-ups
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Kohli, Du Plessis (c), Patidar, Maxwell, Green, Lomror, Karthik (wk), Singh, Sharma, Siraj, Ferguson
Chennai Super Kings: Ravindra, Gaikwad (c), Mitchell, Dube, Jadeja, Rizvi, Dhoni (wk), Thakur, Deshpande, Singh, Theekshana
Set for Magical Twirls!✨💛#WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/7mVVvquID5
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 17, 2024
How to watch
Sky have the rights to show the IPL to UK viewers in 2024 and will broadcast every game live. Saturday’s match will be shown on Sky Sports Cricket from 2.50pm BST.
In India, the games can be streamed on the Jio Cinema app and website. They are also available across the Star Sports Network.
Prediction
This match looks even on paper and it is a tough one to call with so much at stake.
As mentioned by Lara, it will be difficult to halt the momentum of RCB and their form is the best in the league currently.
It’s for that reason we are going for a Challengers win at home.
