IPL 2021, RCB vs CSK preview: Stakes high as Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni face off in clash of the titans

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 is getting intense with each passing game. Meanwhile, it is all set to light up the stage on Friday when Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) takes on former champion Chennai Super Kings in Match 35 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Both sides are in the top half of the table, with CSK being in the second spot, having registered six wins from eight games, while RCB is placed third, with five wins from eight. As both get set for the ultimate clash, we present the preview of this thrilling encounter.

Team composition
As for the teams, RCB is slightly heavy on its superior bowling. Although it failed to scare the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batters in the last game, with CSK batters struggling, it could go all out at them. Meanwhile, its batting has been its weak link so far, with the side heavily relying on skipper Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Devdutt Padikkal and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.

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CSK, too, is somewhat heavy on its bowling, as it was its bowling attack that gave a tough time to the Mumbai Indians batters in the last game. Although it has a productive batting line-up, it tends to goof things up while playing on the tracks of UAE. Nevertheless, the onus would again be on top guns like Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Dwayne Bravo, Ravindra Jadeja and skipper MS Dhoni.

LIVE SCORECARD: IPL 2021 - RCB vs CSK

Injury concerns: None of the sides has any injury concerns.

Head-to-head
The two sides have clashed on 28 occasions, with CSK leading 18-9, while off the 27 IPL clashes, CSK leads 17-9. Of the two games in UAE, both have won apiece, while it would be their maiden clash in Sharjah.

Weather and pitch report
The weather in the desert area of Sharjah would be scorching, with an expected temperature of about 38 degrees and 51% of humidity. As for the track, it is a flat one, while the short grounds make things easier for the batsmen. Winning or losing the toss is hardly going to affect the side.

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.

Catch all the IPL 2021 updates here

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Fantasy XI
Batsmen: Maxwell, du Plessis, Gaikwad- Du Plessis and Gaikwad are sure to give a perfect start as openers, while Maxwell can consolidate in the middle.
Wicketkeeper: De Villiers- The South African is the sole no-brainer in the department, and we all know why.
All-rounders: Jadeja (vc), Moeen, Curran- Jadeja has been in a consistent form in both departments, making him a reliable deputy skipper, while Moeen and Curran are sure to contribute with the ball, owing to their excellent bowling form.
Bowlers: Chahar, Harshal, Jamieson, Siraj- An all-out pace attack on the flat Sharjah deck would be averagely effective, while Harshal's lethal form of late makes him the undisputed skipper.

Match details
Date and day: September 24, 2021 (Friday)
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Time: 7.30 PM (IST)
Where to watch (TV): Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 Hindi (Also available in HD, along with regional languages)
Where to watch (Online): Hotstar

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