IPL 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) began their IPL 2025 on a positive note with an emphatic 7-wicket win against Kolkata Knight Riders in the season-opener at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, last week. Before their highly anticipated encounter with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who recently won by 4 wickets against Mumbai Indians, former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson, who played for CSK and RCB in the IPL, proposed a possible alteration in RCB's lineup to fit the conditions of MA Chidambaram Stadium, or Chepauk.
High Riding RCB
RCB did not need to struggle hard for their victory over KKR, as the openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli laid the platform for the chase with good half-centuries before Kohli guided them home with 22 balls to spare.
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However, with the quality of spinners CSK have in their ranks—including Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, and Ravindra Jadeja—RCB batters could find it challenging to score freely.
"CSK's entire setup is built around excelling in Chennai. Just look at the three spinners who bowled brilliantly in their opening game against MI - Ashwin, Jadeja, and Noor Ahmad. They are going to be a real handful on that surface,” said Watson.
In their opening game, Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad was the standout performer, claiming four wickets for just 18 runs in his four overs, including the prized scalp of Mumbai Indians skipper Suryakumar Yadav.
“Seeing Noor Ahmad make such an impact in his first game for CSK will only boost the team's confidence, knowing they have another wicket-taking option," said Watson.
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