RCB will hope to hold onto their place in the top four
Chennai Super Kings come off the back of a stunning win against all odds in the opening game of the UAE leg against Mumbai Indians. Their batting remains vulnerable, but given that their bowling fired on all cylinders against Mumbai, Chennai have odds of 1.75 to win this game against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Despite the loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in their first game in UAE this season, RCB are a strong side on paper and it appears to be just a matter of time before they hit the right notes. They have odds of 2.06 to beat CSK, and should be backed to win this game.
Chennai hold head-to-head edge
Chennai Super Kings have won 18 of the 28 matches between these sides with Royal Challengers Bangalore winning just nine, the last of which came in 2020. Since 2015, CSK have won eight of the ten matches against RCB, but it’s closer in the last three seasons with a 3-2 record, still in favour of CSK.
RECOMMENDED BET: RCB made some crucial team adjustments in the break, bringing in handy replacement players. Bangalore should be backed to win despite the unfavorable odds of 2.06.
Earlier this season when these sides met in April, Chennai romped home to a 69-run win after Ravindra Jadeja’s incredible fireworks in the death overs against Harshal Patel.
Keep an eye on…
RCB’s middle-order: A middle-order that has AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell is as dangerous as it can get. Add in the unpredictable Wanindu Hasaranga and RCB have a strong middle-order capable of taking down spin.
Faf du Plessis: He was dismissed for a duck in the game against Mumbai Indians, but comes off the back of an excellent Caribbean Premier League and scored a fifty the last time these sides met.
TIP: Both sides have big hitters who can really capitalise on the Sharjah wicket, one of the flattest in UAE. A hundred from a player, the odds of which stand at 7.80, cannot be ruled out.
