News Analysis India

Tag: MS Dhoni

  • ‘I Will Ask Dhoni Why Was I Dropped,’ Virat Kohli’s Contemporary Seeks Explanation From Former Captain After Retirement | cricket news

    Manoj Tiwary could have been one of the greatest sports stories in India. Alas, he retires from cricket having underachieved massively with just 15 international matches to his name. Tiwary played his last cricket match, a Ranji Trophy game against Bihar at home ground Eden Gardens for Bengal. As he leaves the field, he talks about his regrets, one of them if not playing any Test match for India.

    But Tiwary also regrets not having a long white-ball career with India either. He does not blame his captain at that time who was MS Dhoni. Tiwary, however, says he will certainly ask questions to Dhoni whenever he meets him the next time on why he was dropped despite no fault of his own.

    Also Read | Meme Games Begin After Rohit Sharma Angrily Tells Indian Batsmen To Walk Back Causing Declaration Confusion

    Tiwary had scored his first ODI hundred vs West Indies in December 2011 but had to wait for seven months before getting another game to represent the country. Tiwary missed 14 straight matches for India despite his hundred and was even ignored for Australia tour in 2012 while Virat Kohli, Suresh Rain who were struggling for runs got picked.

    Thank you Calcutta Sports Journalists’ Club for the wonderful farewell felicitation. Your constant support throughout my career had been a blessing. My sincere gratitude! __#GoodByeCricket #CSJC pic.twitter.com/eLYMZGkNkq — MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) February 19, 2024

    “I want to hear from him whenever I get the opportunity. I will definitely ask this question. I would like to ask Dhoni why I was dropped from the team after scoring the century, especially in that tour of Australia where nobody was scoring runs, neither was Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma or Suresh Raina. I have nothing to lose now,” Tiwary said.

    Tiwary could not make his Test debut. The batsman played 12 ODIs, scoring 287 runs with one hundred and fifty each to his name. He also featured in 3 T20Is, but scored just 15 runs. Tiwary played 98 IPL matches as well and accumulated 1695 runs. But he could not make his Test debut, a regret with which he has to live his life after retiring from the sport. He also questions why he was not picked despite averaging 65 in first-class games.

    “When I had completed playing 65 first-class matches, my batting average was around 65. The Australia team had toured India then, and I had scored 130 in a friendly game, then I scored 93 against England in a friendly game. I was very close, but they picked Yuvraj Singh instead. So Test cap and the fact that I was ignored after getting the Man of the Match award for scoring a hundred…I was ignored for 14 straight matches. When self-confidence is at its peak and someone destroys that, it tends to kill that player,” Tiwary said.

  • Watch: MS Dhoni Seeks Divine Blessings At Deori Mata Temple Ahead Of IPL 2024 | cricket news

    Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain, MS Dhoni, recently took a spiritual detour as he visited the famous Deori Mata Temple, situated approximately 60 km from Ranchi in Tamar village. Seeking the blessings of Goddess Maa Durga, the legendary cricketer made this pilgrimage ahead of the eagerly awaited IPL 2024. In a recent gesture of reverence and devotion, MS Dhoni, the revered captain of Chennai Super Kings, embarked on a journey of spiritual significance. His visit to the sacred Deori Mata Temple, nestled in the serene surroundings of Tamar village near Ranchi, marks a poignant prelude to the upcoming IPL 2024 season.

    MS Dhoni at Deori Temple ahead of IPL 2024. __#MSDhoni @MSDhoni #WhistlePodupic.twitter.com/BolC6QlxeW — Dhoni Army TN_ (@DhoniArmyTN) February 6, 2024

    A Glimpse Beyond the Cricket Field

    Amidst the fervour of cricketing pursuits, a devoted fan captured a candid moment of Dhoni’s spiritual quest. The video footage, shared across social media platforms, portrays the cricketing maestro humbly queuing alongside fellow devotees, illustrating a facet of his persona rarely witnessed on the cricket field.

    A Journey of Convalescence and Renewal

    Dhoni’s sojourn to the temple comes on the heels of a period of convalescence post his triumphant leadership in IPL 2023. Following a successful campaign culminating in CSK’s fifth championship victory, Dhoni underwent knee surgery, commencing a journey of rehabilitation and renewal.

    Echoes of Mentorship: Rishabh Pant’s Tribute

    In a poignant revelation, Indian wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant reminisced about his profound mentorship under Dhoni’s tutelage. Pant’s candid recounting of seeking Dhoni’s counsel underscores the enduring impact of the veteran’s wisdom and guidance on emerging talents within the cricketing fraternity.

    Dhoni’s Humility Amidst Adulation

    During his temple visit, Dhoni’s humility and affability once again took center stage. Engaging warmly with devotees and fans, the revered cricketer exuded grace and goodwill, epitomizing the essence of sportsmanship beyond the cricketing arena.

    Anticipation Builds for IPL 2024

    As Dhoni and his contemporaries gear up for another exhilarating season of IPL, the pilgrimage to Deori Mata Temple serves as a poignant prelude, infusing their endeavors with spiritual resonance and renewed purpose.

  • MS Dhoni Invited For Ram Temple ‘Pran Pratistha’ Ceremony In Ayodhya | cricket news

    Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain MS Dhoni is among the special 16 individuals from Jharkhand invited for the Ram Mandir ‘Pran Pratistha’ ceremony on January 22. Former India captain Dhoni’s picture with an invitation from government officials went viral since it got posted.

    According to a PTI report, senior RSS functionary Dhananjay Singh handed over the invitation to MS Dhoni at his residence in Ranchi on Monday (January 15). (“Bindaas Khel,” Yashasvi Jaiswal Delighted To Have Rohit Sharma And Co As Seniors – WATCH)

    “We handed over the invitation card to him (Dhoni) on behalf of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22,” Singh told PTI.

    Checkout the picture here:

    MS Dhoni has been invited for Pran Pratishtha of Lord Rama at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. pic.twitter.com/TAS4vf34Ce Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 15, 2024

    As per temple officials, the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony will be held for seven days starting on January 16. VVIPs and top dignitaries from diverse fields and occupations receiving invitations from the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for the grand event on January 22,

    The Trust has made elaborate arrangements to welcome and honor all attendees and will present them with a range of gifts that include ‘Ram Raj.’ As part of the celebration, Teerth Kshetra Trust will also distribute special ‘Motichoor laddus’ made from desi ghee as ‘Prasad’ (ceremonial offering) to the guests.

    More than 11,000 guests nationwide have received invitations from the Trust for the Pran Pratistha ceremony, with special arrangements underway to provide memorable gifts to all attendees. (Just Like Brian Lara, Prakhar Chaturvedi Slams 404* In Final Of Cooch Behar Trophy During Karnataka vs Mumbai)

    According to a Trust member, the revered Ram Raj soil excavated from the temple will be presented to the guests, serving as a cherished memento. This sacred gift could be poured into earthen pots or used in one’s front or backyards, adding divine grace to their households. Even those unable to attend the Pran Pratishtha program may receive this meaningful gift in future, according to officials. A team of priests led by Lakshmikant Dixit will perform the main rituals of the ‘Pran Prathistha’ of Shri Ram Lalla on January 22.

  • LIVE | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) IPL 2024 Auction Retained & Released Players List: MS Dhoni’s Team Have Six Slots To Fill | cricket news

    Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be aiming to win the next edition, which is IPL 2024, under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. The talismanic skipper has won five titles for the CSK franchise and does not want to leave before he makes CSK the greatest IPL side of all times. Currently CSK and Mumbai Indians (MI) share this honour, having won the titles five times each.

    Follow LIVE Updates | IPL 2024 Auction: A Total Of 333 Players To Go Under Hammer

    In IPL 2024, the focus will be on who Dhoni passes on the baton to. Ravindra Jadeja was tried as captain but that experiment fell flat in IPL 2022 as Dhoni was asked to lead again midway through the tournament. In this case, the biggest contender to do the job could be dashing opener Ruturaj Gaikwad. This youngster from Maharashtra has made a name for himself batting at the top at CSK. He is loved in Chennai by the fans and has the same sense of calmness in going about things like Dhoni.

    CSK have a strong squad with plenty of top players in the side in the form of Dhoni, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali and Mitchell Santner. They have retained the players thinking how they can make best use of the home conditions. The Chennai track assists spinners and batters who just don’t play slam-bang cricket. CSK have been very smart at the auctions as CEO Kasi Viswanathan is quite a genius with the investments. That’s the reason why they have made so many finals and won five trophies.

    For a franchise to miss two seasons, in 2016 and 2017 due to suspension, and come back so strongly to win three more titles, requires able leadership and Dhoni provides the same with his superb tactical acumen and man-management skills.

    CSK Purse Available: Rs 31.40 crore

    CSK Slots Remaining: Six (Three Overseas)

    Chennai Super Kings Retained Players: MS Dhoni, Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Nishant Sindhu, Ajay Mandal, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana, Mukesh Chowdhary. , Prashant Solanki, Simarjeet Singh, Tushar Deshpande, Matheesha Pathirana

    CSK Players Bought At IPL Auction: List will be updated soon

  • CSK coach Stephen Fleming feels MS Dhoni’s best time to come out for batting is from 15 overs onwards

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming on Monday said the best time for MS Dhoni to come out to bat is from 15 overs onwards.

    Shikhar Dhawan’s unbeaten 88 helped Punjab Kings beat Chennai Super Kings by 11 runs at the Wankhede Stadium here. Ambati Rayudu’s 39-ball 78-run knock went in vain as CSK lost their sixth match of the season.

    “We lost a wicket in the 13th over, pretty close to when we have seen MS Dhoni come in the last 13 years. We had this discussion a lot, MS’ best time is from about 15 overs onwards and Jadeja has played some good innings for us from the stage, and we don’t throw that out based on 1-2 games,” said Fleming during a post-match press conference.

    About the match, Fleming said that when a match is as high scoring as one played on Monday, there are always a couple of twists and turns where the team could have performed better.

    “For the majority of the innings, we were in control. But they (PBKS) finished really well,” added the CSK head coach.

    About Rayadu’s hand injury, Fleming said that the first check was done around the break and the player’s hand was bruising.

    “It was just a case of icing that and getting that down and I think a little padding around the glove. It was the same hand that was broken sometime back, so it is still pretty tender and a knock like that can obviously cause some damage. But fortunately for us, it settled down he batted well,” he added.

    Fleming said that all-rounder Moeen Ali, who injured his ankle, is in his recovery period.

    “X-Rays revealed there was no fracture, which is good. We are hopeful that the recovery will be quick, given that there is no fracture,” added the coach.

    Coming to the match, Punjab Kings lost captain Mayank Agarwal early during the powerplay. But a 110-run stand between Shikhar Dhawan (88*) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (42) and some hard-hitting strokes of Liam Livingstone (19), PBKS reached 187/4 at the end of their 20 overs.

    Chasing 188, CSK kept losing wickets at regular intervals, though Ruturaj Gaikwad (30) and Ambati Rayadu ensured that the team crossed the 50-run mark in 7.5 overs. Later, Rayadu (78) continued his assault on the Punjab bowling line-up, putting a 64-run stand with captain Ravindra Jadeja (21). The equation came down to 27 in the last over, MS Dhoni attempted to take his team over the line, but was caught by Jonny Bairstow while attempting to hit it over the ropes.

    Punjab Kings won the match by 11 runs and Shikhar Dhawan was given the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his 88* off 59 which included nine fours and two sixes.

    With this win, Punjab Kings are at the sixth spot in the points table with eight points while Super Kings lay at the ninth spot with just four points. PBKS will take on Lucknow Super Giants on April 29 while CSK will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 1.

  • CSK coach Stephen Fleming feels MS Dhoni’s best time to come out for batting is from 15 overs onwards

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming on Monday said the best time for MS Dhoni to come out to bat is from 15 overs onwards.

    Shikhar Dhawan’s unbeaten 88 helped Punjab Kings beat Chennai Super Kings by 11 runs at the Wankhede Stadium here. Ambati Rayudu’s 39-ball 78-run knock went in vain as CSK lost their sixth match of the season.

    “We lost a wicket in the 13th over, pretty close to when we have seen MS Dhoni come in the last 13 years. We had this discussion a lot, MS’ best time is from about 15 overs onwards and Jadeja has played some good innings for us from the stage, and we don’t throw that out based on 1-2 games,” said Fleming during a post-match press conference.

    About the match, Fleming said that when a match is as high scoring as one played on Monday, there are always a couple of twists and turns where the team could have performed better.

    “For the majority of the innings, we were in control. But they (PBKS) finished really well,” added the CSK head coach.

    About Rayadu’s hand injury, Fleming said that the first check was done around the break and the player’s hand was bruising.

    “It was just a case of icing that and getting that down and I think a little padding around the glove. It was the same hand that was broken sometime back, so it is still pretty tender and a knock like that can obviously cause some damage. But fortunately for us, it settled down he batted well,” he added.

    Fleming said that all-rounder Moeen Ali, who injured his ankle, is in his recovery period.

    “X-Rays revealed there was no fracture, which is good. We are hopeful that the recovery will be quick, given that there is no fracture,” added the coach.

    Coming to the match, Punjab Kings lost captain Mayank Agarwal early during the powerplay. But a 110-run stand between Shikhar Dhawan (88*) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (42) and some hard-hitting strokes of Liam Livingstone (19), PBKS reached 187/4 at the end of their 20 overs.

    Chasing 188, CSK kept losing wickets at regular intervals, though Ruturaj Gaikwad (30) and Ambati Rayadu ensured that the team crossed the 50-run mark in 7.5 overs. Later, Rayadu (78) continued his assault on the Punjab bowling line-up, putting a 64-run stand with captain Ravindra Jadeja (21). The equation came down to 27 in the last over, MS Dhoni attempted to take his team over the line, but was caught by Jonny Bairstow while attempting to hit it over the ropes.

    Punjab Kings won the match by 11 runs and Shikhar Dhawan was given the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his 88* off 59 which included nine fours and two sixes.

    With this win, Punjab Kings are at the sixth spot in the points table with eight points while Super Kings lay at the ninth spot with just four points. PBKS will take on Lucknow Super Giants on April 29 while CSK will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 1.

    MUMBAI: Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming on Monday said the best time for MS Dhoni to come out to bat is from 15 overs onwards.

    Shikhar Dhawan’s unbeaten 88 helped Punjab Kings beat Chennai Super Kings by 11 runs at the Wankhede Stadium here. Ambati Rayudu’s 39-ball 78-run knock went in vain as CSK lost their sixth match of the season.

    “We lost a wicket in the 13th over, pretty close to when we have seen MS Dhoni come in the last 13 years. We had this discussion a lot, MS’ best time is from about 15 overs onwards and Jadeja has played some good innings for us from the stage, and we don’t throw that out based on 1-2 games,” said Fleming during a post-match press conference.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    About the match, Fleming said that when a match is as high scoring as one played on Monday, there are always a couple of twists and turns where the team could have performed better.

    “For the majority of the innings, we were in control. But they (PBKS) finished really well,” added the CSK head coach.

    About Rayadu’s hand injury, Fleming said that the first check was done around the break and the player’s hand was bruising.

    “It was just a case of icing that and getting that down and I think a little padding around the glove. It was the same hand that was broken sometime back, so it is still pretty tender and a knock like that can obviously cause some damage. But fortunately for us, it settled down he batted well,” he added.

    Fleming said that all-rounder Moeen Ali, who injured his ankle, is in his recovery period.

    “X-Rays revealed there was no fracture, which is good. We are hopeful that the recovery will be quick, given that there is no fracture,” added the coach.

    Coming to the match, Punjab Kings lost captain Mayank Agarwal early during the powerplay. But a 110-run stand between Shikhar Dhawan (88*) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (42) and some hard-hitting strokes of Liam Livingstone (19), PBKS reached 187/4 at the end of their 20 overs.

    Chasing 188, CSK kept losing wickets at regular intervals, though Ruturaj Gaikwad (30) and Ambati Rayadu ensured that the team crossed the 50-run mark in 7.5 overs. Later, Rayadu (78) continued his assault on the Punjab bowling line-up, putting a 64-run stand with captain Ravindra Jadeja (21). The equation came down to 27 in the last over, MS Dhoni attempted to take his team over the line, but was caught by Jonny Bairstow while attempting to hit it over the ropes.

    Punjab Kings won the match by 11 runs and Shikhar Dhawan was given the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his 88* off 59 which included nine fours and two sixes.

    With this win, Punjab Kings are at the sixth spot in the points table with eight points while Super Kings lay at the ninth spot with just four points. PBKS will take on Lucknow Super Giants on April 29 while CSK will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 1.

  • Have learned lot from MS Dhoni, he is fantastic captain: RCB skipper Faf du Plessis

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: Ahead of the Chennai Super Kings game against Royal Challengers Bangalore at DY Patil Sports Academy on Tuesday, Faf du Plessis spoke about facing his old team and the memories he shared with the team CSK.

    Former CSK star player, who is the current captain of the RCB team also expressed his excitement to meet his old teammates ahead of the clash. Speaking on the ‘Inside RCB’ show on Star Sports, Faf du Plessis said: “It would be really great to play against Chennai. As I said I have got an incredible amount of love and respect from the people for everything that they have done.”

    “So it would be a great day to see everyone again and obviously when we walk on the field hopefully I can put in some performances to get RCB the win on that game,” he added.

    Faf du Plessis also spoke about his journey with CSK, he said: “I’m extremely grateful for Chennai and being around with them for more than 10 years. They have a special place in my heart and I have learned a lot from MS Dhoni, he’s a fantastic captain as well, so I’m sitting in a position where I can learn from two of the great leaders in Indian cricket.”

    Both sides have so far savoured completely contrasting fortunes in the latest edition of the tournament as the Royal Challengers Bangalore have been soaring high with three consecutive wins while Chennai is still to get off the mark after the worst start to their campaign in the antiquity of the entire tournament.

  • Have learned lot from MS Dhoni, he is fantastic captain: RCB skipper Faf du Plessis

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: Ahead of the Chennai Super Kings game against Royal Challengers Bangalore at DY Patil Sports Academy on Tuesday, Faf du Plessis spoke about facing his old team and the memories he shared with the team CSK.

    Former CSK star player, who is the current captain of the RCB team also expressed his excitement to meet his old teammates ahead of the clash. Speaking on the ‘Inside RCB’ show on Star Sports, Faf du Plessis said: “It would be really great to play against Chennai. As I said I have got an incredible amount of love and respect from the people for everything that they have done.”

    “So it would be a great day to see everyone again and obviously when we walk on the field hopefully I can put in some performances to get RCB the win on that game,” he added.

    Faf du Plessis also spoke about his journey with CSK, he said: “I’m extremely grateful for Chennai and being around with them for more than 10 years. They have a special place in my heart and I have learned a lot from MS Dhoni, he’s a fantastic captain as well, so I’m sitting in a position where I can learn from two of the great leaders in Indian cricket.”

    Both sides have so far savoured completely contrasting fortunes in the latest edition of the tournament as the Royal Challengers Bangalore have been soaring high with three consecutive wins while Chennai is still to get off the mark after the worst start to their campaign in the antiquity of the entire tournament.

    MUMBAI: Ahead of the Chennai Super Kings game against Royal Challengers Bangalore at DY Patil Sports Academy on Tuesday, Faf du Plessis spoke about facing his old team and the memories he shared with the team CSK.

    Former CSK star player, who is the current captain of the RCB team also expressed his excitement to meet his old teammates ahead of the clash. Speaking on the ‘Inside RCB’ show on Star Sports, Faf du Plessis said: “It would be really great to play against Chennai. As I said I have got an incredible amount of love and respect from the people for everything that they have done.”

    “So it would be a great day to see everyone again and obviously when we walk on the field hopefully I can put in some performances to get RCB the win on that game,” he added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Faf du Plessis also spoke about his journey with CSK, he said: “I’m extremely grateful for Chennai and being around with them for more than 10 years. They have a special place in my heart and I have learned a lot from MS Dhoni, he’s a fantastic captain as well, so I’m sitting in a position where I can learn from two of the great leaders in Indian cricket.”

    Both sides have so far savoured completely contrasting fortunes in the latest edition of the tournament as the Royal Challengers Bangalore have been soaring high with three consecutive wins while Chennai is still to get off the mark after the worst start to their campaign in the antiquity of the entire tournament.

  • Southern derby set to liven up IPL with Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni on opposing sides

    By IANS

    MUMBAI: It is going to be a clash of the heavyweights when the in-form Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) take on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the southern derby at the DY Patil Stadium here later on Tuesday.

    An IPL clash with two former India captains in the opposing sides is a delight for the fans, but if those two happen to be the iconic Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the contest takes an altogether different meaning.

    Both sides have so far had contrasting fortunes in this edition of the IPL. While RCB have been flying high on the back of superb performances from their batters as well as bowlers and are currently third on the points table after three wins in four outings, the Ravindra Jadeja-led CSK are scraping the bottom of the table after four consecutive losses.

    The Faf du Plessis-led RCB will be coming into the contest on the back of fine form as they ran riot against an off-colour Mumbai Indians with an all-round display, with budding opener Anuj Rawat smashing a coming-of-age knock and the seasoned Kohli steering the team to the finishing line with a controlled 48.

    The bowlers too were spot on as they restricted Mumbai Indians in the first 15 overs.

    Four-time IPL champions CSK, on the other hand, have struggled badly, with barely anything to show for their efforts as they have slumped to four straight losses, the worst start ever for the side. This clash will be of symbolic importance to CSK as another loss can deal a massive blow to their already dampened spirits.

    RCB skipper Faf du Plessis will come up against the batting prowess of Moeen Ali in another interesting clash to watch out for. The former South African captain got off to a fine start as he blasted 88 in the season opener. However, since then he has been relatively quiet going by the high standards. But on his day, du Plessis can almost single-handedly change the course of the game. Moeen too is a dynamic striker of the ball and can roll his wrists as well for good measure. He was also instrumental in CSK winning the IPL last season.

    The venue is likely to favour the bowlers slightly, with a minimal presence of green that has made the ball drift in the early overs. However, a match aggregate of 400-plus runs cannot be ruled out. Teams chasing will always have the upper hand considering the dew factor and the fact that 10 T20 games out of the 13 played here have been won by the chasers.

  • Southern derby set to liven up IPL with Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni on opposing sides

    By IANS

    MUMBAI: It is going to be a clash of the heavyweights when the in-form Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) take on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the southern derby at the DY Patil Stadium here later on Tuesday.

    An IPL clash with two former India captains in the opposing sides is a delight for the fans, but if those two happen to be the iconic Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the contest takes an altogether different meaning.

    Both sides have so far had contrasting fortunes in this edition of the IPL. While RCB have been flying high on the back of superb performances from their batters as well as bowlers and are currently third on the points table after three wins in four outings, the Ravindra Jadeja-led CSK are scraping the bottom of the table after four consecutive losses.

    The Faf du Plessis-led RCB will be coming into the contest on the back of fine form as they ran riot against an off-colour Mumbai Indians with an all-round display, with budding opener Anuj Rawat smashing a coming-of-age knock and the seasoned Kohli steering the team to the finishing line with a controlled 48.

    The bowlers too were spot on as they restricted Mumbai Indians in the first 15 overs.

    Four-time IPL champions CSK, on the other hand, have struggled badly, with barely anything to show for their efforts as they have slumped to four straight losses, the worst start ever for the side. This clash will be of symbolic importance to CSK as another loss can deal a massive blow to their already dampened spirits.

    RCB skipper Faf du Plessis will come up against the batting prowess of Moeen Ali in another interesting clash to watch out for. The former South African captain got off to a fine start as he blasted 88 in the season opener. However, since then he has been relatively quiet going by the high standards. But on his day, du Plessis can almost single-handedly change the course of the game. Moeen too is a dynamic striker of the ball and can roll his wrists as well for good measure. He was also instrumental in CSK winning the IPL last season.

    The venue is likely to favour the bowlers slightly, with a minimal presence of green that has made the ball drift in the early overs. However, a match aggregate of 400-plus runs cannot be ruled out. Teams chasing will always have the upper hand considering the dew factor and the fact that 10 T20 games out of the 13 played here have been won by the chasers.

    MUMBAI: It is going to be a clash of the heavyweights when the in-form Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) take on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the southern derby at the DY Patil Stadium here later on Tuesday.

    An IPL clash with two former India captains in the opposing sides is a delight for the fans, but if those two happen to be the iconic Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the contest takes an altogether different meaning.

    Both sides have so far had contrasting fortunes in this edition of the IPL. While RCB have been flying high on the back of superb performances from their batters as well as bowlers and are currently third on the points table after three wins in four outings, the Ravindra Jadeja-led CSK are scraping the bottom of the table after four consecutive losses.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The Faf du Plessis-led RCB will be coming into the contest on the back of fine form as they ran riot against an off-colour Mumbai Indians with an all-round display, with budding opener Anuj Rawat smashing a coming-of-age knock and the seasoned Kohli steering the team to the finishing line with a controlled 48.

    The bowlers too were spot on as they restricted Mumbai Indians in the first 15 overs.

    Four-time IPL champions CSK, on the other hand, have struggled badly, with barely anything to show for their efforts as they have slumped to four straight losses, the worst start ever for the side. This clash will be of symbolic importance to CSK as another loss can deal a massive blow to their already dampened spirits.

    RCB skipper Faf du Plessis will come up against the batting prowess of Moeen Ali in another interesting clash to watch out for. The former South African captain got off to a fine start as he blasted 88 in the season opener. However, since then he has been relatively quiet going by the high standards. But on his day, du Plessis can almost single-handedly change the course of the game. Moeen too is a dynamic striker of the ball and can roll his wrists as well for good measure. He was also instrumental in CSK winning the IPL last season.

    The venue is likely to favour the bowlers slightly, with a minimal presence of green that has made the ball drift in the early overs. However, a match aggregate of 400-plus runs cannot be ruled out. Teams chasing will always have the upper hand considering the dew factor and the fact that 10 T20 games out of the 13 played here have been won by the chasers.