IPL 2021: Match 35 RCB vs CSK Preview, Playing XI, Live Streaming Details & Updates

Irrespective of which part of India you are from, Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore is a match that sends a unique adrenaline rush in the cricket fan. The prospect of seeing Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni on the field against each other is enough to make you sit glued to the television sets.

Chennai and Bangalore will be led by two men who have been part of their respective franchises ever since the inception of the tournament. And the beauty is, both Kohli and Dhoni are as different as chalk and cheese.

Kohli is on your face, he exudes energy on the field, does not hesitate to glare at the opponent, and will even enter into a few confrontations if the need arises. Energy brings out the best in him. Dhoni is the exact opposite. Dhoni is like a monk. He is calm, and you do not even know what is going on in his mind. He relies on the process, and you will seldom see him display emotions on the field.

There are other titanic players who will take part in this monumental battle as well. Bangalore’s AB de Villiers can destroy any bowling attack, is the 6th highest run-scorer in IPL cricket, and brings with him an experience of 177 IPL matches. To match ABD, Chennai has Suresh Raina, who too is a legend in his own right and has played a whopping 201 IPL matches. He is the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament and has been the backbone of the CSK side with the willow for more than a decade.

And, this match comes at a crucial time from the tournament’s point of view as well. The IPL has reached its 2nd half, and the race for the playoffs will intensify with every passing game. Chennai and Bangalore are both, placed in the top half of the points table, and will look to finish inside the top two.

When these two teams met each other in the first half of the tournament, MS Dhoni and his men pummeled the Bangalore side by a margin of 69 runs. And, both Chennai and Bangalore will enter this faceoff on a totally contrasting note. Chennai got the better of the Mumbai Indians and comfortably secured a 20-run victory in their previous match. On the other hand, the Bangalore side was decimated by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) side by 9 wickets in their previous battle.

So, will the grandmaster of the T20 format, MS Dhoni outwit his counterpart, or will Virat Kohli’s fire and energy emerge on top over Dhoni’s ice-like calmness?

Pitch and Conditions

The Sharjah Cricket Stadium is one where the batsmen can score big. The boundaries are on the shorter side, and the batsmen can cash in big time if they can get their eye in. Expect a high-scoring rubber between the two teams.

Playing Combinations for RCB vs CSK

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are unlikely to change their team combination after just one debacle against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). They will remain unchanged for the rubber against Chennai.

Predicted XI: Virat Kohli (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Srikar Bharat (wk), Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Sachin Baby, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal

Chennai Super Kings

The Chennai Super Kings too, are not expected to change their side, after a win against the Mumbai Indians. They too are expected to field the same playing XI from their previous match.

Predicted XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (c and wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Josh Hazlewood

RCB vs CSK Head-to-Head

Played –27 | Royal Challengers Bangalore – 9 | Chennai Super Kings – 17 |N/R – 1

RCB vs CSK Broadcast Details

Match Timings – 7:30 PM IST

TV – Star Sports Network

Live Streaming – Disney+Hotstar