CSK bowl first to end winless run, RCB seek momentum in playoff battle

Pic: IPL/X/AFP

Chennai Super Kings have opted to bowl first in their bid to secure a much-needed morale-boosting win against Royal Challengers Bangalore, who are eyeing a provisional playoff spot. But beyond the tactical battle between the two sides, this IPL 2025 clash on Saturday offers the rare spectacle of Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni facing off, potentially for the final time in the league.

Looking at the situation, a win for RCB would take them to 16 points, putting them in a commanding position to qualify for the playoffs with three matches still to go. This would virtually seal their entry into the next stage, making them a formidable force in the competition's closing weeks.

For CSK, a victory would serve more than just a points boost. With their playoff hopes all but extinguished, a win would instill belief that they could finish the season on a high, avoid finishing at the bottom of the table, and perhaps find a little late-season momentum. However, this hope is inextricably tied to the performances of their two iconic leaders, Kohli and Dhoni, whose longstanding rivalry and camaraderie have been one of Indian cricket's most fascinating narratives.

At the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kohli is in red-hot form, having registered four half-centuries in his last five innings. With 443 runs to his name, the former RCB captain is firmly in the race for the Orange Cap and will be looking to play another masterful innings to help his side inch closer to playoff qualification.

Support from his fellow batters, including No. 3 Devdutt Padikkal, who has contributed two half-centuries in his last two outings, will be crucial. Kohli will also be hoping for more consistency from his opening partner, Phil Salt, to ease the burden on his shoulders. Additionally, RCB will be keen to see skipper Rajat Patidar rediscover his early-season form, as his last meaningful innings came seven matches ago.

However, Patidar's task could be made easier by a struggling CSK bowling attack, with the exceptions of pacer Khaleel Ahmed and spinner Noor Ahmad. But the challenge will be no less for CSK's batters, who have endured a collective dip in form this season. Against RCB's potent bowling attack - comprised of Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Krunal Pandya, and Suyash Sharma, they will need to find a way to counter their limitations.

CSK will rely heavily on players like Ayush Mhatre, Sam Curran, Dewald Brevis, and Shivam Dube to fire with the bat and provide Dhoni the platform to play his trademark late-innings cameos. In previous seasons, Dhoni's rapid 30s have turned middling totals into competitive ones, but with the top order underperforming, his quick-fire knocks have lost much of their impact this year.

For the large and passionate CSK fanbase, the presence of both Kohli and Dhoni on the field, particularly given Dhoni's comments about his future participation in IPL 2026 depending on his physical condition, will be a poignant reminder of the days when the two stalwarts led India to many victories together. This match may be the last time we see them battle it out in the IPL, making it all the more special for fans and players alike.