CSK vs RCB: Key battles to watch out for
The 12th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicks off with the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Chennai tonight at 8 PM. Fans couldn't have asked for a better opening encounter as both the sides have several superstars in their ranks. Let's have a look at the key battles between players which the tie promises.
The battle of the captains
The battle of the captains deserves to be on the top. Although Kohli does not have the same level of success as skipper compared to Dhoni, be it IPL or international cricket, he is a top star. While Kohli has excelled more with the bat than Dhoni, the decision-making skills of CSK skipper are far better, which has played a role in several victories.
The Indo-Aussie rivalry
The Indo-Australian rivalry has always been a heated one. The same could be expected between Indian pacer Umesh Yadav, who is set to give a tough time to Australian all-rounder Shane Watson. While Watson played a pivotal role, with a century in the final to guide CSK to their third title win, Umesh would look to unsettle him early on, in the tournament.
A fierce Proteas-Windies battle on the cards
Among the star-studded team, a South African is all set to battle a West Indian, as swashbuckling batsman AB de Villiers takes on all-rounder Dwayne Bravo. While AB is famous for smacking the ball all over the park, Bravo is well known to provide the breakthrough when needed the most. Can AB survive lethal pace of Bravo, or will the South African stand tall?
An Indian battle of spin and pinch-hit
An Indian rivalry awaits us between Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who would be up against pinch-hitter Suresh Raina. While Raina may have faded out of Team India contention, Chahal is a top star in the current Indian side and could well give a tough time to Raina. However, it would be of no surprise if Raina goes berserk against Chahal.
