IPL 2020: Match 25: Chennai Super Kings Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: Match Prediction

It will be a battle of two of Indian cricket’s biggest titans in MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli for the first time in the Dream11 IPL 2020 when Chennai Super Kings squares off against the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday.

Unlike the previous seasons of the IPL, both sides come into this contest with almost a role reversal in their fortunes. While Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore have strung three wins in five games, the three-time champions have endured a forgettable campaign thus far, having managed just two wins after six games.

After having mauled Kings XI Punjab by ten wickets, it looked like CSK was finally beginning to come back on track but the last game against the Knight Riders once again exposed what has plagued the Super Kings thus far in this IPL- lack of intent and form of their middle-order.

Chasing 168, CSK were comfortably placed at 1-90 after 10 overs before the middle-order spearheaded by a another lackluster outing by skipper MS Dhoni and especially Kedar Jadhav, who managed a painstaking 12-ball seven, ensured that they botched what looked like a pretty straightforward run-chase.

With just 2 wins in 6 games, CSK has a lot of catching up to do but before that, they need to first address their middle-order issues. Kedar Jadhav hasn’ turned up for the franchise since his match-winning knock in the 2018 IPL opener and it is high time that the team-management rope in either of Jagadeeshan or Ruturaj Gaikwad in place of the Maharashtra batsman. Also, CSK needs to flexible with their batting-order and should use the likes of Dwayne Bravo and Sam Curran more frequently with the bat, compared to what they have done thus far.

Also Read- IPL 2020: Match 25: Chennai Super Kings Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: RCB Predicted XI

Royal Challengers Bangalore will look to come back to winning ways after a shellacking against DC

As far as RCB is concerned, they might have won three of their five fixtures, but the two games that they have lost- against KXIP and DC- have been by huge margins, something that could come back to haunt them if it does boils down to net run-rate.

Also, the two defeats exposed the gaping holes that Virat Kohli’s team has in their set-up. Barring Devdutt Padikkal and AB de Villiers, no batsmen have looked in good form thus far. Virat Kohli has scored back-to-back 40-plus scores in the past two games but the charismatic batsman hasn’t looked at his absolute best so far and has often struggled to play the big shots. Also, Aaron Finch’s form should come as a cause of concern for RCB.

Barring the 50 that Finch scored against Mumbai Indians, the swashbuckling opener has failed to light up the IPL and give his team consistent starts at the top of the order.

As far as bowling is concerned, RCB’s issue has once again been their death bowling. And, Chris Morris’s injury hasn’t helped their cause either. Virat Kohli confirmed after the last game that Chris Morris should be available for the match against CSK, and it remains to be seen whether that happens or not.

The likes of Isuru Udana and Navdeep Saini have claimed wickets but they have been equally expensive at the death, and it is one department that could once again turn out to be their nemesis at the backend of the tournament.

 

IPL 2020: Match 25: Chennai Super Kings Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: Match Prediction

Chennai Super Kings have dominated Royal Challengers Bangalore over the years in the IPL. They hold a 15-8 advantage over Virat Kohli-led RCB. In-fact, RCB has won just 1 of their last eight games CSK [by 1 runs last year]. And, with CSK in desperate need for a victory to keep themselves afloat, backing the MS Dhoni-led unit to continue their dominance over the Challengers.