Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey

IPL 2020 Match 44: RCB vs CSK Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report

Even with the unpredictabilities of IPL 2020, anything other than a convincing Royal Challengers Bangalore victory would be a surprise. Indeed, it is quite the turn of events in 2020, as the roles are usually reversed between these two sides, particularly over the past couple of seasons.

But it has been a terrific season to date for Virat Kohli’s men. While the skipper himself and AB de Villiers have been excellent with the bat, it has been their bowling which has improved leaps and bounds compared to previous seasons. After the likes of Chris Morris, Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar have produced consistent performances, Mohammad Siraj then burst onto the scene last time out with a record-breaking spell against KKR. Now, courtesy of DC’s defeat to KKR yesterday and before MI’s game vs RR, RCB can move into top spot with just three games remaining after this one.

If the bowlers can maintain their consistency, one can back them to be too good for Chennai Super Kings. CSK’s last two performances, especially the horror show against Mumbai Indians, all-but-confirmed that this CSK team is focused on next season and beyond. Skipper MS Dhoni confirmed this, with the last three games to have a focus on the future. So, the big question is whether the experienced players, along with the talented and fighting Sam Curran, will be up for the fight against an in-form team.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• Virat Kohli was the star against CSK earlier this season, striking a superb 90* off 52 balls. Incredibly, he hit just four fours and four sixes in his innings, which is testament to his running between the wickets. On a big Dubai ground and slow pitch, Kohli will be key again.
• Kohli has the most runs in RCB-CSK matches, with 851 at an average of 40.52.
• MS Dhoni is next on the list with 716 at an average of 39.78. However, Dhoni’s lack of impact this season has really hurt CSK.
• CSK is one of AB de Villiers‘ least-favourite opponents. In fact, ABD was out for a duck against them earlier this season, and averages 20.24 in 17 matches against them.
• However, there is no better time than now for ABD to improve that record. CSK is struggling, and de Villiers is enjoying an excellent season so far: 9 inns, 285 runs, avg, 57.00, SR 190.00.
• Devdutt Padikkal has made plenty of starts in recent times, with scores of 33, 32, 18, 35 and 25 in his last five games. He hasn’t been at his free-flowing best, but if he can set a platform for the likes of Kohli and de Villiers, then it’s job well done.
• A lot depends on Faf du Plessis and Ambati Rayudu to lead the way for CSK with the bat. du Plessis is still in the top five run-scorers in the tournament, with 376 runs at an average of 41.77.
• Watch out for Chris Morris. The South African all-rounder has been a superb addition for RCB, with nine wickets in five games at an economy rate of just five. He took 3/19 against CSK earlier this season.
• Can Mohammad Siraj (3/8 vs KKR) find some early swing to cause carnage for CSK? CSK were reduced to 3-4 against MI, so keep an eye out on the RCB opening bowlers as they look to cause some damage.
• Yuzvendra Chahal has taken the equal fifth-most wickets so far in IPL 2020 (15 in 10 matches). Also, Chahal has performed pretty well at Dubai this season, with figures of 3/18, 1/25, 1/48, 0/29, 1/35 and 2/34.
• Sam Curran played a lone hand vs MI last time out, with a fighting half-century. CSK’s “complete cricketer” has been a shining light in their tough tournament (10 wickets, 173 runs).
• Ravindra Jadeja has struggled with the ball in IPL 2020 (four wickets in 11 games). It is with the bat where he has made the highest contribution (128 runs in last six innings, two dismissals, SR 175.34).
• Imran Tahir has taken six wickets in three games for CSK vs RCB.

Stats and Facts

• Matches 26, RCB 9, CSK 15.
• RCB (169/4) beat CSK (132/8) by 37 runs earlier in IPL 2020.
• All CSK batsmen, other than MS Dhoni (avg. 42, SR 147), strike at less than 100 vs Yuzvendra Chahal.
• AB de Villiers is 58 runs away from 9,000 in T20s.
• RCB have won four out of six games at Dubai in 2020. CSK, on the other hand, have lost three out of five.

Possible Playing 11

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1. Devdutt Padikkal, 2. Aaron Finch, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. AB de Villiers (wk), 5. Gurkeerat Mann Singh/Shivam Dube, 6. Chris Morris, 7. Washington Sundar, 8. Isuru Udana, 9. Mohammad Siraj, 10. Navdeep Saini, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal

Chennai Super Kings: 1. Faf du Plessis, 2. Shane Watson/Ruturaj Gaikwad, 3 N Jagadeesan, 4. Ambati Rayudu, 5. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 6. Sam Curran, 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Deepak Chahar, 9. Shardul Thakur, 10. Josh Hazlewood, 11. Imran Tahir

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Dubai Pitch and Weather Report

The team batting first has won 13 of 19 games at Dubai in 2020. However, the chasing team is starting to have greater success, with four wins in the past five games as more dew sets in. But, the surface is slowing down, which was on show yesterday as KXIP defended 126 vs SRH in remarkable fashion.

Dream11 Prediction

Also read: How to create multiple teams in Dream11 and its benefit

Option 1:

Option 2:

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Match Prediction

Anything other than an RCB win would be quite the surprise. RCB are playing with great confidence, and should prevail in this one.

Thanks for reading!