CSK vs RCB 2019: Sportsrush presents before you three intriguing player battles ahead of the first match of IPL 2019.
The first match of the 12th season of the Indian Premier League will be played between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chennai tomorrow. With the South Indian derby kicking-off IPL 2019, one can expect a riveting contest first up.
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Despite the Super Kings leading in the Head-to-Head statistics, one cannot declare them the favourites majorly because of the fact that Royal Challengers comprise players like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in their side. Another set of numbers confirm that the two captain in MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are likely to dominate in tomorrow’s match.
Below are three player battles to look forward to in the first match of the IPL:
MS Dhoni vs Yuzvendra Chahal
From claiming MS Dhoni to be always open for discussions to turning to him when in trouble to looking up to him for advises, Yuzvendra Chahal has more often than not eulogized about the veteran cricketer. However, nothing of this sort will come into play when the duo will be against each other tomorrow.
There is no hiding to the fact that wrist-spinners have put Dhoni in trouble in the recent times. Chahal would be eager to bank on Dhoni’s latest weakness to not let him dictate terms tomorrow. If Kohli opts to bowl Chahal in the death overs, this contest would be worth-watching.
Suresh Raina vs Tim Southee
The first facet of Suresh Raina’s game which opposition captains tend to attack is tell their fast bowlers to bowl short deliveries at him. Raina, Indian Premier League’s highest run-scorer, somehow manages to play the short ball in the shortest format.
Therefore, it is another battle which is expected to allure eyeballs tomorrow. If Chennai lose an early wicket and Raina comes in to bat early, expect Southee to follow this approach against the southpaw.
AB de Villiers vs Imran Tahir
Despite playing 118 matches across formats for the same team at the highest level, the South African duo of AB de Villiers and Imran Tahir will be witnessed opposite each other when Chennai will face Bangalore at the Chepauk tomorrow.
While both of them are high on experience, this contest will see the swashbuckling batsman and the leg-spinner in a mouth-watering contest. Them knowing the maximum about each other will further add spice to the contest.
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