Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will play against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Match 8 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the historic MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday, March 28.
Strong Opening Pair: Virat Kohli & Phil Salt
Virat Kohli displayed his class with a 59 not out in the first match, stabilizing the chase effortlessly. His form at the top continues to be important for RCB. With him was Phil Salt, who established his place with a 56 in a frenetic run, giving the team the thrust they needed. The pair will look to dictate terms against CSK’s fiery bowling lineup. In the middle order, captain Rajat Patidar has a key role to play in stabilizing the innings and accelerating when needed.
RCB’s Fiery Middle Order
With Chennai’s slow and gripping surface, his ability to rotate strike will be vital. Liam Livingstone contributes raw power to the middle order and can tear apart spinners if he gets settled, while wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma, who is a finisher, will be an important cog in the death overs. Tim David adds much-needed firepower in the lower middle order with his capability to clear boundaries, particularly against CSK’s well-disciplined bowling unit.
Spinners To Play A Crucial Role
Krunal Pandya, who did well with his 3-wicket haul in the last match, will play an important part both with bat and ball, with his left-arm spin proving extremely effective in the conditions of Chennai. With the bowlers, RCB may opt to introduce an extra spinner Swapnil Singh fitting the bill based on the pitch conditions.
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Promising leg-spinner Suyash Sharma could prove to be a game-changer against CSK’s right-hand-biased lineup. Josh Hazlewood’s experience and capacity to get bounce will be key in the death overs and powerplay, with Yash Dayal hoping to carry his steadiness as a pace option.
CSK Vs RCB: What To Expect From Pitch?
With the slow pace of the pitch, stroke-making will not be simple. A score between 160-180 may be a winning total. Batters will have to work hard, and bowlers, particularly spinners, will have a huge role to play in limiting the opposition.
RCB’s Predicted Playing XI
Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Philip Salt, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal
