IPL2024: As clubs search for early answers to difficult problems, Dhoni-led CSK hopes to get off to a strong start against RCB

IPL 2024 will kick off with a high-stakes game between cross-city rivals Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru here on Friday. But, beneath the spectacle, the two main protagonists will need to find early answers to some profound questions as they try to enter a rarefied territory.

Even Mumbai Indians, who have won five IPL trophies, have not been able to approach the area occupied by the five-time and reigning champion Chennai Super Kings with a sixth trophy.

The Royal Challengers, on the other hand, will be excited to add an IPL championship to their collection after just winning their first title in the Women’s Premier League.

They do, however, provide unique difficulties to overcome.

Under the leadership of MS Dhoni, who is 42 years old and still going strong, the Super Kings have been the IPL’s trailblazers of success.

His batting reflexes have not kept up with the passing summers, but his cricketing intellect remains impervious to the passage of time.

Thus, it will be up to the younger names to stand up. In the absence of Devon Conway, who will miss the first few games of the IPL because of a thumb injury, the CSK has put a great deal of reliance in its new addition Rachin Ravindra.

Daryl Mitchell, a hard-hitting middle-order batsman and useful seamer, gives the CSK more Kiwi character.

They may also rely on opener Ruturaj Gaikwad’s young energy and Ajinkya Rahane’s expertise while batting, as the latter is joining the IPL after leading Maharashtra to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

However, a group of all-rounders and spinners who can make the most of the rough Chidambaram Stadium surface constitute their real strength.

Even the greatest may be made to dance to the music of Ravindra Jadeja, Maheesh Theekshana, Mitchell Santner, Moeen Ali, and Ravindra. The two cunning domestic campaigners for the CSK are pacers Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar.

However, due to a hamstring injury sustained during the most recent Twenty20 International series against Bangladesh, Matheesha Pathirana, a slinger for Sri Lanka, is questionable to start.

However, the CSK machine’s tiny scratches do not make RCB’s job any simpler. To put it more clearly, since 2008, RCB has not defeated CSK at this location.

Batting duties will once again fall to captain Faf du Plessis and star batsman Virat Kohli, who is making his competitive cricket comeback after a two-month hiatus.

They are scheduled to open simultaneously, but Cameron Green’s presence this time around may serve as a backup plan in case any of them or both falters. Green is a strong bowler as well.

And there’s always Glenn Maxwell, whose memorable performances at the World Cup of the previous year may not be forgotten.

With Mohammed Siraj, Lockie Ferguson, Alzarri Joseph, Akash Deep, and Reece Topley in the fast bowling line, they have a combination of great speed and technique, but none of them excel in death over scenarios.

Worrisomely, the leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was released before to the auction, making the RCB spin assault seem flimsy.

Maxwell’s off-spin will hopefully be enough, but players like Karn Sharma, Himanshu Sharma, and Mayank Dagar lack experience or haven’t been put to the test in a game.

MS Dhoni ©, Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Mandal, Mukesh Choudhary, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Mitchell Santner, Simarjeet Singh, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Maheeesh Theekshana, Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, Daryl Mitchell, Sameer Rizvi, Mustafizur Rahman, and Avanish Rao Aravelly are the members of the CSK squad.

RCB: Mayank Dagar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Cameron Green, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, Suyash Prabhudessai, Will Jacks, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, and Saurav Chauhan.

Kickoff: 8:00 p.m.