IPL 2021, RCB vs CSK LIVE UPDATES: Chennai wins by 6 wickets, rises to the top

It's all over, as CSK walks away with a comfortable six-wicket win. Although RCB managed to scalp four wickets, it happened to be 20 runs short. CSK rises to the top spot, while RCB remains third. Read full report here....

OUT! Rayudu c de Villiers b Harshal 32 (22). CSK: 147/4 (18.1). Batting: Suresh Raina 17 (10), MS Dhoni 11 (9).

The third breakthrough for RCB, as Moeen falls for 23 to pacer Harshal after popping it in the air and comfortably taken by Kohli. However, is it too late for RCB, with Raina out in the middle? 32 more needed off 30.

OUT! Moeen c Kohli b Harshal 23 (18). CSK: 125/3 (12). Batting: Ambati Rayudu 24 (18), Suresh Raina 5 (4).

And, we have the second breakthrough too, with du Plessis falling for 31 to Maxwell after another brilliant take by Saini. Now, can RCB crawl back into the game, with Moeen coming in?

OUT! du Plessis c Saini b Maxwell 31 (26). CSK: 100/2 (12). Batting: Moeen Ali 11 (11), Ambati Rayudu 17 (10).

The first breakthrough is here, as Gaikwad has departed for 38 to leg-spinner Chahal after being brilliantlycaught by Kohli. However, is it too late for RCB? Can it capitalise on this breakthrough?

OUT! Gaikwad c Kohli b Chahal 38 (26). CSK: 71/1 (9). Batting: Faf du Plessis 31 (25), Moeen Ali 0 (4).

Gaikwad and du Plessis continue to play in a commendable fashion. Seems like RCB is losing its grip in this game, as the bowlers have hardly delivered now. 98 more needed off 84.

CSK: 59/0 (6). Batting: Ruturaj Gaikwad 28 (15), Faf du Plessis 29 (22).

The CSK openers Gaikwad and du Plessis have been off to a steady start. RCB needs to et early wickets to pile pressure on CSK. Doesn't seem like happening at the moment.

CSK: 23/0 (3). Batting: Ruturaj Gaikwad 11 (7), Faf du Plessis11 (11).

The CSK bowlers have done a great job in restricting RCB to 156/6, which seems to be a below-par total on this surface. Although the pitch seems to be doing a bit now, the question is will it be easy for CSK to chase? Maxwell and Harshal were the final men to depart.

OUT! Maxwell c Jadeja b Bravo 11 (9), Harshal c Raina b Bravo 3 (5). RCB: 156/6 (20). Batting: Wanindu Hasaranga 1 (1).

Two more wickets fall, as de Villiers and Padikkal have made their way back, courtesy pacer Thakur. The pitch seems tot have done some tricks in the latter phase of the innings.

OUT! De Villiers c Raina b Thakur 12 (11), Padikkal c Rayudu b Thakur 70(50). RCB: 150/3 (18). Batting: Glenn Maxwell 9 (5), Tim David 1 (1).

Finally, CSK has the first breakthrough, as skipper Kohli departs right after scoring his 41st IPL half-century, with pacer Bravo making him go big and get caught by Jadeja at deep mid-wicket. Padikkal stays, while de Villiers has come in to join the party on his 150th IPL game.

Kohli c Jadeja b Bravo 53 (41). RCB: 131/1 (16). Batting: Devdutt Padikkal 67 (47), AB de Villiers 6 (8).

Padikkal has brought up his sixth IPL half-century, as RCB continues its ride with no harm done, with Kohli looking in fine touch too. Are the alarm bells ringing for CSK?

RCB: 104/0 (12). Batting: Virat Kohli 47 (35), Devdutt Padikkal 54 (37).

There's no stopping Kohli and Padikkal so far, as they continue their glorious run with the bat, while the timeout for CSK hasn't helped either. How long before Dhoni's bowlers get the first breakthrough?

RCB: 82/0 (9). Batting: Virat Kohli 42 (28), Devdutt Padikkal 38 (26).

Kohli and Padikkal have dominated in the powerplay so far. But, RCB's real test starts now, as the CSK pacers are sure to start getting breakthroughs hereon, with the ball somewhat moving in the air.

RCB: 55/0 (6). Batting: Virat Kohli 32 (20), Devdutt Padikkal 21 (15).

The RCB openers, Kohli and Padikkal have so far utilised Sharjah's batting conditions to their advantage, besides exploiting the powerplay as well. However, the CSK pacers have shown promising signs so far.

RCB: 28/0 (3). Batting: Virat Kohli 18 (11), Devdutt Padikkal 10 (7).

Toss: CSK elects to field

Dhoni: We'll bowl first. There are a few wet patches, but it has dried out slightly. It's a small ground, and there was dew the last time we played. Same team. It was an incredible team effort. To reach around 160, it was an exceptional performance by the bat. The bowlers needed to get into action, and we kept getting wickets. We played well to get back in. Gaekwad has been incredible. He plays authentic cricket shots. I just hope he keeps doing the same.

Kohli: The wicket looks nice and hard. I don't think it'll change a lot. A few more runs would be nice. It's a wake-up call. You still have to come out here and gain momentum again. We have brought in Navdeep Saini for Sachin Baby. We needed more pace in the middle overs. Kyle Jamieson misses out, and Tim David replaces him. He makes his debut for RCB. He's a power player in the lower middle-order, plays spin well, and he's a strong lad.

Playing XI
RCB: Virat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat (wk), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Tim David, Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini and Yuzvendra Chahal.
CSK: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar and Josh Hazlewood.

The toss has been delayed due to the famous sandstorm in Sharjah. It is expected to take place in ten minutes from now.

Hello and welcome to Asianet Newsable's live coverage of the high-octane clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore and former champion Chennai Super Kings in Match 35 of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. With two giants involving colossal skippers Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni of the respective sides, this clash would be one of a kind.

Both sides are in the table's top half. CSK is in the second spot, registering six wins from eight matches, while RCB is at third, winning five from eight.

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The two sides have met on 28 occasions, with CSK having a lead of 18-9. In 27 clashes of the tournament, CSK has an authority of 17-9. The two have met twice in UAE, both winning apiece, besides this being their maiden clash in Sharjah.

LIVE SCORECARD: IPL 2021 - RCB vs CSK

The Sharjah weather, which happens to be a desert area, would be scorching, with the temperature expected to be around 38 degrees, while the humidity would be approximately 51%. The track usually remains, while the ground also happens to be a short one, thus making it easy for the batters. Toss is unlikely to play a significant factor here.

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Probable XI
RCB: Virat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, KS Bharat (wk), AB de Villiers (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Sachin Baby Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj and Kyle Jamieson.
CSK: Faf du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ambati Rayudu, Sam Curran, Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja.