IPL 2018: Match 35, Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore - Toss Report

Chennai Super Kings won the toss and decided to field first against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the thirty-fifth match of the Indian Premier League at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune.

Here is what the captains said:

MS Dhoni:

“We will bowl first. The wicket doesn’t change. Hopefully it’ll only get slightly first. Somebody will have to step up and own that responsibility. Chahar is injured, so it gives us an opportunity to try other players before the serious part of the tournament. Faf misses out and Willey comes in.”

Virat Kohli:

“We’d have bowled first as well. Good wicket, so we will try to put some runs on the board. I think we’re getting momentum at the right time. Last 3 games have been really good. Really happy about where we are placed as a team. AB de Villiers is in for de Kock, Parthiv is in for Vohra and M Ashwin comes in for Washington Sundar.”

Preview:

Both the teams are entering the contest with contrasting results in their last games. While Royal Challengers successfully defended 167 against Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings were decimated by Kolkata Knight Riders despite scoring a competitive 177.

With the tournament well in its business phase, neither of the two teams could afford to lose this game. Chennai Super Kings are currently second in the table with 6 wins in 9 games. On the other hand, Royal Challengers are sixth in the table with 3 wins in 8 games. So while a win will take Super Kings closer to a playoff berth, the same result would keep Royal Challengers in the tournament. With so much on stake in the game, neither of the two teams will give even an inch to each other.

Playing elevens:

Chennai Super Kings:

Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Dhruv Shorey, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, David Willey, Harbhajan Singh, Lungi Ngidi, Shardul Thakur

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

Parthiv Patel(w), Brendon McCullum, Virat Kohli(c), AB de Villiers, Mandeep Singh, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Murugan Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal