"What a first game this will be" - Faf du Plessis excited for CSK vs RCB IPL 2024 opening clash

India’s biggest carnival has once again returned as the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League is all set to begin in Chennai on March 22. Reigning champions Chennai Super Kings and Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on each other at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. The match will be a clash between former teammates MS Dhoni and Faf du Plessis.

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Faf du Plessis spent his initial years with the Chennai Super Kings and shared a deep bond with MS Dhoni. Reacting to the first IPL 2024 clash, Du Plessis went to his Instagram handle and posted a story for the same.

Reposting RCB’s post, Faf du Plessis wrote, “What a first game this will be wow..,” Du Plessis was part of the Chennai Super Kings until the IPL 2021, but CSK weren’t able to retain him back in the 2022 edition of the tournament. Du Plessis was picked by the Royal Challengers Bangalore and was named as the captain of the side after Virat Kohli stepped down from the position. However, Du Plessis was not able to change RCB’s fortunes and the team is yet to lift an IPL title.

Faf du Plessis excited for the opening IPL 2024 clash against CSK

The RCB vs CSK rivalry is a treat to watch out for the fans and is also known to be the second ‘El Clasico’ of IPL after the CSK vs MI clash. Both the teams have played each other in a total of 31 IPL games wherein, CSK have been victorious 20 times whereas RCB have won the rest 10 games with one game having no result. Faf du Plessis will be aiming to turn down the fortunes of RCB this season whereas MS Dhoni will want to lift his sixth trophy in the cash-rich league.

The BCCI released only the schedule of the first 17 days of the Indian Premier League and will release the further schedule after the dates of general elections in India are announced. There will be home and away matches in the IPL in 2024 as well. The Covid-19 pandemic forced a four-year break before the home-and-away format was reinstated last year.

IPL 2024 runs from March 22 to April 7. There will be 21 games played in all during this time, including 4 doubleheaders. Once the Election Commission of India declares the dates of the General Elections, the governing body will release the remaining schedule.

The Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad are the 10 teams who will compete in the 2024 Indian Premier League. The current champions are the Chennai Super Kings.

Last year, the Chennai-based franchise equaled the record by winning the IPL for a fifth time, defeating Gujarat Titans in the final. In the forthcoming season, Chennai and Mumbai Indians hope to make history by being the first side to win the IPL six times in a row.