IPL 2019, CSK vs RCB: Top 5 player battles to watch out for

The defending champions - Chennai Super Kings will look to continue their great form from last year, while RCB will certainly hope for a good start in this season after failing to make the play-offs in two consecutive seasons.

The twelfth season of the Indian Premier League is set to get underway with Indian cricket’s biggest stalwarts taking on each other in Chennai on Saturday. MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings will be up against Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore.

File image of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. (PTI)

The defending champions - Chennai Super Kings will look to continue their great form from last year, while RCB will certainly hope for a good start in this season after failing to make the play-offs in two consecutive seasons.

Here’s a look at the top five player battles to watch out for in this IPL clash.

Virat Kohli vs Ravindra Jadeja

Virat Kohli has scored 104 runs off 96 balls against Ravindra Jadeja in the IPL, but the off-spinner has dismissed the Indian captain three times in the tournament. Kohli has a strike-rate of 133.71 in T20s, but against Jadeja he has batted at a strike-rate of 108.33. Ravindra Jadeja will be certainly looking to get Kohli’s wicket once again. The Saurashtra cricketer has been playing with Kohli since his U-19 days.

AB de Villiers vs Harbhajan Singh

The Chennai Super Kings would be thinking of bringing Harbhajan Singh into the attack when AB de Villiers comes out to bat. The off-spinner has been able to ensure that the South African doesn’t score too many runs and has also dismissed him twice in the IPL. De Villiers, who has a career T20 strike-rate of 148.36, bats at a strike-rate of 135.21 against Harbhajan Singh. De Villiers has scored 96 runs from 71 balls against the off-spinner.

MS Dhoni vs Umesh Yadav

MS Dhoni has been in terrific form since the ODI series against Australia. The wicketkeeper-batsman has scored 327 runs at an average of 81.75 in ODIs this year. Kohli will be looking at Umesh Yadav to provide the wicket of MS Dhoni or put a brake on the runs. The fast bowler has dismissed Dhoni once in the IPL and has conceded at a strike-rate of 126.92. Umesh Yadav has a knack of picking up wickets with the new ball and Dhoni would hope that he doesn’t have to walk into bat during the first six overs.

Suresh Raina vs Yuzvendra Chahal

Suresh Raina has struggled against the leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in the IPL. The left-hand batsman has been dismissed four times by the Royal Challengers Bangalore bowler. Chahal will be certainly brought into the attack when Raina makes his way to the crease in the first IPL match on Saturday. However, even though Chahal has had Raina’s number on multiple occasions, the number three batsman has managed a decent strike-rate of 139.34.

Shane Watson vs Pawan Negi

Shane Watson would have to be weary of Pawan Negi when he walks out to bat in the IPL clash against RCB. The Australian has been dismissed three times by the left-arm spinner. Watson has scored 24 runs in 21 balls against Pawan Negi in the IPL. The CSK all-rounder is much more comfortable against the fast bowlers at the top of the order, therefore Kohli may introduce spin a bit early if Watson opens the batting for CSK.