RCB vs CSK: Live Streaming, Match Preview, Timings, Stats, Pitch Report and more for Dream11 IPL, Match 44

Eyeing another playoff qualification, Royal Challengers Bangalore must fancy its chances to seal the deal against the down-and-out Chennai Super Kings on Sunday.

Published - 24 Oct 2020, 21:02 IST | Updated - 24 Oct 2020, 21:02 IST

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In absolute shambles are the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Shattered, battered, and in penury with nothing but three wins after eleven games. A miraculous mathematical situation aside, the road of the IPL 2020 for the Yellow Army is all, but over. Hanging by the thinnest of threads to qualify, CSK brought to its name another shameful defeat this season against arch-rivals Mumbai Indians: their first 10-wicket defeat in the history of the league.

With merely six points from 11 games, CSK can take it up to a maximum of twelve, provided they win all three of their remaining league fixtures. Another loss means an official kiss of death for them. However, a victory in the remaining three matches also does not guarantee them a playoff berth, and they will need a gazillion ton of luck.

For CSK to qualify, RR must lose one of their remaining three fixtures, and the winner of Match 43 (KXIP vs SRH) must lose at least two of the three remaining matches. Furthermore, the loser of the 43rd match must lose at least one of their three remaining matches. Done? Not yet! KKR must necessarily lose at least three of the remaining four games.

The reasons behind their failed attempt are multidimensional and can surely be scrutinised in great detail. The setup was built keeping in mind that CSK would play half of their contests at the Chepauk, and the different conditions in the UAE have surely not helped them cope up.

The absence of Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh had already waned their power to a considerable extent, and with Dwayne Bravo out of contention, CSK have way too many voids to fill. Never mind all of that, the active players have not been able to fire either. It seems, with so much not going their way, a miracle is indeed what they needed this year. Will they? Won’t they? That’s for time to tell.

On the other hand are the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who are ecstatically leading a contrasting campaign by their standards. Their tactics have paid off well, and the team have gelled up adroitly to generate favourable results. Eyeing another playoff qualification, RCB must fancy their chances to seal the deal against the down-and-out CSK on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Pitch and conditions

The last four games in Dubai have seen the chasing teams ending up on the winning side. The bat-first template seems to have been changing in the recent matches, and the same could be expected this time around as well. This being a day game, the impact of dew will be negligible.

Playing Combinations for RCB vs CSK

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Despite Aaron Finch not being able to break free at times, he has been able to give some decent starts alongside the young talent Devdutt Padikkal. The middle-order has been firing in tandem for the team with two of the most destructive and consistent players in the ranks. The biggest plus for the team has been the addition of Chris Morris, who has managed to give performances with both bat and ball.

The bowlers in the last game had a rememberable outing as they rattled the Kolkata Knight Riders for 84 for 8. The magnificent spell of Mohammed Siraj was one for the ages and he was the destroyer-in-chief for the team with his ravaging spell of eight for three.

Probable XI- Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers (WK), Washington Sundar, Chris Morris, Isuru Udana, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal

Chennai Super Kings

Chennai went with three changes in the last game, although nothing worked for them as they were thrashed by 10 wickets. The entire top-order fell like a pack of cards and surrendered in front of the might of the pacers. Speaking at one of the post-match conferences, skipper MS Dhoni opined about the youngsters missing the “spark” in them.

Much was expected from the likes of N Jagadeeshan and Ruturaj Gaikwad. However, both of them heavily disappointed and went without troubling the scorers. The last outing was a disaster for the bowlers too, as none of them was able to get a breakthrough, and the opponents chased the target in merely 12 overs.

Imran Tahir, after being benched for the majority of the tournament, finally got a game, although his inclusion was unable to bring a change in the fortunes of the team.

Probable XI- Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu, Narayan Jagadeesan, MS Dhoni (C & WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Deepak Chahar, Imran Tahir, Shardul Thakur, Josh Hazlewood