It’s time for another ‘IPL El Clasico’ as CSK take on RCB in the reverse fixture between the two sides today.

CSK emerged as winners in the previous fixture, as the genius of MS Dhoni helped CSK get over the line despite AB de Villiers firing on all cylinders in the first innings.

RCB will be hoping to get the better of CSK this time, as CSK are coming off a heavy defeat against KKR. RCB on the other would be high on confidence after the win in the last game and that too without ABD.

ABD is deemed fit for this game, but QDK will be missing out as he has to attend an important wedding back home.

Parthiv Patel could thus find himself in the squad as the wicketkeeper, as both BMac and ABD don’t keep in the international circuit anymore.

RCB will thus have to bring about a lot of changes to their line up

OPENERS:

Parthiv Patel

Parthiv Patel will be needed to be drafted into the XI as RCB will be without the services of QDK for this game.

QDK had been doing a good job for RCB at the top of the order and behind the stumps. Parthiv, who is an experienced campaigner would be hoping to fill into QDK’s shoes for as long as he is absent this season.

Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum surprisingly didn’t open the batting in the last game and came in at number 3, but QDK not playing this game, and Vohra to be sacrificed in order to get an Indian wicketkeeper in , BMac should be back to the top of the order.

He has looked in good form this season but will want to convert his starts into big scores so as to take some pressure off Virat Kohli and ABD.

MIDDLE ORDER:

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is set to return to his favoured number 3 spot and will be looking to play the sheet anchor role by keeping his end stacked all through the innings.

AB de Villiers

RCB will welcome the services of AB De Villiers back into the team after missing out the last couple of games. ABD will walk in after the fall of two wickets wicket and would want to continue from where he left. The South African smashed CSK bowlers to all parts of the park in a 64-run knock, however, his team fell to a defeat then.

Mandeep Singh

Mandeep Singh has been a brilliant finisher for RCB this season, scoring at more than a strike rate of 180 in the final few overs,he will want to continue his good form and provide a flourish to the innings.

ALL ROUNDERS:

Colin De Grandhomme

CDG arguably put his best performance of the IPL in his last match, when he scored 23 off just 11 deliveries and bowled 3 economical overs in a crucial match situation. He will retain his place in the side.

Washington Sundar

Washington coming back to form will be crucial for RCB as he is one of the vital cogs in their bowling unit. He has sort of being found out by the teams this season as he is going over 10 runs an over economy rate, he will have to improve his bowling. 

BOWLERS:

Tim Southee

Southee was the man of the match in the previous match vs MI with figures of 25 runs from his quota of 4 overs and picking up 2 wickets.RCB might have found their death bowler in the form of Southee.

Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav has been RCB’s best bowler so far and apart from the match against the Royals where he conceded 59 runs, he has given RCB the perfect start while bowling but has not been effective enough in the death. Kohli will look to use him in the intial overs where he can pick up wickets from his swing bowling.

Yuzvendra Chahal

Going only at a rate of 5.75 in the previous match, Kohli can expect to have a economical bowler in the form of Chahal.

Mohammed Siraj

Continuous confidence in Siraj from Kohli has helped him learn throughout the season and seems to have become a more effective bowler at the death after being taken to the cleaners by the CSK batsmen in the last outing between the two teams.

Manan Vohra will have to miss out despite a brilliant perfromance in the last game, as ABD and BMac both have made it very clear that they wouldn’t be indulging in wicketkeeping duties any more.

If RCB manage to convince any one of them to keep, Manan Vohra could slot into the openers role.