In the fifth match of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL), Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will face Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The game is set to take place on Monday, April 17 at Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Following their opening-day defeat at the hands of the Gujarat Titans (GT), CSK gained some momentum with wins over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and the Mumbai Indians (MI). They were then defeated by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at home, leaving them looking for another winning streak.
The five-time champs are currently suffering with multiple ailments and have exhausted their backup plans. Deepak Chahar and Ben Stokes have been out with injury for some time, and Sisanda Magala is the latest setback. MS Dhoni is allegedly nursing a knee injury but is expected to play.
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Despite the injuries, CSK has stepped up, with backup players like Ajinkya Rahane and Akash Singh putting in solid performances in the absence of the big stars. They now have four points from four matches, and with a significant gap between league leaders Rajasthan Royals (RR) and the rest, their standing in the points table at the halfway mark will be determined by the forthcoming round of fixtures.
On that topic, here are three things that CSK must execute correctly in order to defeat RCB in the IPL 2023.
#1 Break RCB’s initial alliance as quickly as possible.
The in-form Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis have been a thorn in the sides of the opposition, particularly at home. Kohli has hit three straight fifties at the stadium and, together with the RCB captain, has helped the team get off to a flying start on each occasion.
It goes without saying that RCB’s hitting unit is built around the productive tandem at the top. The loss of Rajat Patidar has left them without a bridge to the middle order, which is teeming with all-rounders.
The club used Mahipal Lomror at No. 3 in their triumph over the Delhi Capitals (DC), which was their only option given the squad’s balance.Dinesh Karthik’s poor form adds to the worry if Kohli and Du Plessis falter at the top.
CSK’s new-ball bowlers will be on high alert and will do all necessary to expose the RCB middle order as quickly as possible. Tushar Deshpande and Maheesh Theeksana, for example, would be tasked with making early breakthroughs.
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#2 Rotate strike in the middle overs and boost the ante
CSK skipper MS Dhoni emphasised the batsmen’ lack of effort in the middle overs, which hindered CSK’s chances of successfully chasing down the score against the Royals a few days ago.
While the top order has usually delivered, the middle order has failed to step up to the plate. Shivam Dube, Ambati Rayudu, and Moeen Ali have not been dependable enough to relieve the strain on finishers Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni.
Given that RCB have been far from their best while bowling in that part of the game, this could be the ideal opportunity for the middle order to come up. While the return of Wanindu Hasaranga has bolstered Bangalore, it is still a route that can be pursued.
#3 Negotiate Mohammed Siraj’s threat in the powerplay
Mohammed Siraj has clearly been the finest bowler for RCB thus far in the competition. His early breakthroughs have been critical for the squad, and he has also been highly consistent.
RCB have perhaps had the greatest version of their bowling spearhead so far, with scores of 1-21, 3-22, and 2-23 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The approach taken by CSK’s openers versus Siraj will be critical. Devon Conway has lost his wicket against pacers three times out of four occasions in IPL 2023, which is cause for concern for CSK.
They cannot afford to let Siraj set the terms and be on the back foot from the start. CSK batsmen will need to strike a careful balance between caution and aggression against Siraj if they are to put RCB under pressure.
Also Read: 3 Things RCB Must Do To Defeat CSK In The IPL 2023 (cricfiles.com)
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