Chennai: In an anticipated match-up in IPL 2025 on Friday, Royal Challengers Bangalore will strive to break its 17-year curse against said opponents, Chennai Super Kings, in Chepauk. While RCB has only beaten CSK once on this venue way back in 2008, it is confident they can rely on their experienced batting line-up, led by Virat Kohli, to dwarf the predatory spin attack mounted by the latter. Kohli, being the only remaining entity from RCB's performances at Chepauk, is the principal actor likely to spur the carnage.
CSK will root for their home conditions to favor them. A track favoring spin can boost fighters like the team's left-arm spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, and not long ago Afghanistan's Noor Ahmad, with top-notch lempos against Mumbai Indians. RCB need to be very sharp against this threat. Kohli will lead the batting if he plays brilliantly against spin out of the sweep shots.
Nevertheless, it cannot be an individual effort. Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingston, and Jitesh Sharma, will have to chip in big contribution towards the RCB scorecard. Moreover, RCB might need to bring in Jacob Bethell, replacing Tim David, for the all-left-arm spin option.
For CSK, they should test their mid-lower order batting, with everybody falling apart against MI. Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda, and Sam Curran need to chip through to ease the pressure off Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra. Great care will be given to pace bowler Matheesha Pathirana, who missed the last game due to fitness. Being both strong sides, it tells for an inviting clash.
[Source Credit: Deccan Chronicle]
