IPL 2024, Match 1: Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Match Preview

CSK Jersey 2022. (Photo Source – Twitter/X)

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are all set for the curtain raiser of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season on March 22 at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. CSK are the defending champions and joint-most successful team in the competition. 

Chennai will be confident to start their campaign at their home ground. With a mix of experience and youth, the team has always been one of the favourites to lift the trophy. MS Dhoni who is probably playing his last season would be looking to give his fans a good farewell.

Also read: IPL 2024: Everything you need to know about upcoming series

While RCB who are yet to lift their maiden title, will be confident to end their 16-year trophy drought. RCB have some of the best batters in their team and can upset their opponent on the given date. The Faf du Plessis-led side will be forgetting the past defeats and will be looking for a better season this time around.

M. A. Chidambaram Stadium Pitch Report and Conditions

The M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is known for favouring bowlers, especially spinners. The surface at this venue is helpful for spin bowling, as the ball tends to grip and turn sharply, making it difficult for batters to play their strokes freely. The Chepauk pitch is well-used and has a firm surface, which helps both spinners and pacers who can extract variation. The captain that wins the toss should look to bowl first and restrict the opponent under the par score.

Probable Playing XI

Chennai Super Kings:

The defending champions have a good blend of experience and youth in their squad. The Chennai-based franchise will be going with a minimum of four all-rounders who can give them quality overs and add those crucial runs to the scoreboard.

Predicted XI: Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Mukesh Choudhary, Maheesh Theekshana. 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru:

The Bengaluru-based franchise will be confident going in for the opener. Though the team lacks experienced bowlers in their squad, they have quality batters in their team that can change the course of the game. Faf du Plessis who was previously part of the CSK squad knows the pitch and conditions well and will look to defeat his previous franchise in the opening game.

Predicted XI: Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Mayank Dagar, Vijaykumar Vyashak, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Siraj, Karn Sharma.

Head-to-Head Record

CSK vs RCB, 1st Match Broadcasting details: