Bangalore, Chennai eager to escape the middle table funk

Within an hour after the last ball was bowled on a jolly Saturday evening at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the victory glow had already given way to the next thing. Supporters in large numbers queued up on Queens Road seeking tickets for the much awaited Southern Derby. 

By Thursday evening, Bangalore management made a social media post stating the upcoming game against Chennai was sold out. And still fans from as far away as Hubli, Belagavi and from Dharmapuri on the other side of the state border held out hope, compelling willing passerbys into conversation in hopes of gathering some intel. This hysteria had been anticipated and thus tickets were priced differently higher in comparison to other fixtures. Even so in the black market, buyers are willing to pay 6 times the face value of an already inflated ticket price. 

All of this to be a part of a jam packed blend of red and yellow and see Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni share a cricket field together. The two icons have met on 30 occasions but the 31st meeting is intensified by the possibility of being the pair’s last meeting as active cricketers. There is no second leg at Chepauk and definitely no guarantee of both franchises qualifying to the Playoffs. The possible last dance is obviously an assumption and Dhoni has ‘certainly not’ confirmed any rumours of this being his final season as a player.

All of the narrative building, the sociopolitical and cultural framework for an Ind T20 League game takes place on the outside. Inside, Kohli, Dhoni, and their teams live in a world dominated by language like 'good areas' and 'processes,' a world of more theory and less drama. Several column inches have been devoted to how different these two are and how their teams have been an extension of their personalities in the past. However, they have discovered common ground throughout the years in their capacity to pace themselves, to harness their physical and emotional energies, and to peel and slice away anything unnecessary until just what is most vital remains. So, two points are on the line tomorrow, the same number as in each other league game. The two points will take one of these two sides a little away from the early season mid table fluster. 

When: Match 24: Bangalore vs Chennai, Ind T20 League 2023, 19:30 IST

What to expect: It’s an evening game and therefore the outcome of the BLR-DEL game here from two days ago shouldn’t have much relevance. More so considering the new surface on the right edge of the square will come into play. Skipper winning the toss should elect to bowl first. 

Head to Head: BLR 10-19 CHE

While Bangalore emerged victorious last time these two sides met, four of the previous five encounters have gone CHE’s way. 

Teams

Bangalore:

Bangalore’s middle order that is missing the services of Rajat Patidar have failed to find a suitable alternative. Mahipal Lomror has underperformed in the four games he has played so far. Not having a quality Indian batter in the middle order is putting tremendous pressure on their ‘Big 3’. Anuj Rawat came in as an impact player in the last game but failed to create any real impact. In the bowling department, Bangalore lacks quality. Their bowlers have done exceptionally well with the new ball but have struggled during the back end. 

Tactics and Key Matchups:

Bangalore have been the best bowling side in the PowerPlays this year with Mohammad Siraj leading from the front. The pacer has picked three wickets and conceded at just 4.70 RPO across the ten overs of the Powerplay. The 29 year old is however yet to dismiss  Chennai’s opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad over the 36 balls in the competition but with both men in equally good form, the winner of this head to head battle could set the tone of the match. 

Probable XI: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Wayne Parnell, Mohammed Siraj, Vyshak Vijaykumar

Chennai:

Chennai will have at least one change in their last playing XI with Sisanda Magala out with a split webbing. Both Matheesha Pathirana and Dwaine Pretorious were seen sweating out at the nets on the eve of the game with the former having just recovered from COVID. 

Tactics and Key Matchups:  

Ravindra Jadeja will be a key match up factor against both Glen Maxwell and Virat Kohli. Jadeja has dismissed the Aussie allrounder six times in 40 balls in the Ind T20 League. He has also got the better of the former Bangalore skipper on three occasions. In fact, the game could well be decided in the middle overs. Chennai have a stellar record here in the Ind T20 League 2023, their spin bowlers having taken 12 wickets while going at just 6.85 in this phase. Even traditionally, this has been a critical point of Dhoni’s side in these ties. For instance, since 2018 CHE spinners have picked 36 BLR wickets at an economy rate of 6.42. 

Probable XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu/Akash Singh, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c&wk), Dwaine Pretorius/Matheesh Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande

Fact File

-MS Dhoni averages a staggering 92.60 in 10 innings at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

-Virat Kohli is yet to be dismissed by a pacer in Ind T20 League 2023. 

-Ajinkya Rahane has an excellent Ind T20 League record in Bengaluru. He once smacked Sreenath Arvind for six consecutive fours during his knock of 103 back in 2012.