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IPL 2021 Match 35: RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

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Last Updated on 4 weeks by Charbel Coorey

IPL 2021 Match 35: RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BLR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report

A cracking Friday in store. The first match at Sharjah in IPL 2021 promises to be a beauty, with two top four teams going head-to-head in the quest to take a big step towards the playoffs.

Chennai Super Kings, courtesy of a brilliant comeback against Mumbai Indians last weekend, again showed why they are better placed this season to perform well in the UAE. The performances of Ruturaj Gaikwad is a huge plus, and their bowling attack looks potent again under the fine leadership of MS Dhoni. They have the opportunity to go back to first place in the table with a win here, and more crucially put a bigger buffer between they and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

It is indeed a huge game for RCB. After a superb start to the season, Virat Kohli’s team has fallen away somewhat, headlined by a thumping defeat at the hands of KKR. A batting lineup like RCB’s certainly has what it takes to respond after being demolished for 92 all-out, and they will need to perform at their best today against a confident and free-flowing CSK team. Also, questions will be asked of RCB’s bowling attack – especially at the death – one of three key challenges they must overcome if they wish to lift their first ever title.

In this fixture earlier this season, Ravindra Jadeja produced one of the all-time great all-round performances to sink RCB. What will happen here on a small ground in a game that has the potential for huge scores?

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Chennai Super Kings:

  • Ruturaj Gaikwad is in fine touch. He has scored 64 (42), 33 (25), 75 (44), 4 (4) and 88* (58) in his last five IPL knocks. His innings against Mumbai last weekend was particularly special, rescuing his team from a terrible batting powerplay.
  • Gaikwad has scores of 33 and 65 against RCB. Interestingly, he has scored two ducks at Sharjah, but he has come a long way since then.
  • Faf du Plessis will be key up top for CSK. In nine innings for CSK against RCB, du Plessis has struck 291 runs at an average of 41.57 and strike rate of 127, including a 50 earlier this season.
  • Despite his duck in the last game, du Plessis still has a fine record in IPL 2021: 8 inns, 320 runs, avg. 53.33, SR 143.39.
  • Ravindra Jadeja produced an all-round performace for the ages earlier this season vs RCB. He took Harshal Patel apart en route to 62 off 28 balls, and then took 3/13 including the wickets of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.
  • Overall for CSK against RCB, Jadeja has 15 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 17.87. However, he will be seeking to improve a shocking bowling record on this ground, with total figures of 0/113 in 9.5 overs.
  • Moeen Ali is yet to play a game vs RCB in his IPL career. Like du Plessis, Moeen scored a duck vs Mumbai but he remains a key player when batting in the top four in T20s. When batting first in IPL, Moeen has smashed 416 runs in 16 innings at an average of 31 and strike rate touching 167. Batting second, he averages just 12.4 in eight innings (99 runs).
  • MS Dhoni has played a limited role with the bat this season, but did send himself higher up the order against MI. Dhoni has a magnificent record for CSK vs RCB, with 737 runs at an average of 40.94 and strike rate of 145.94.
  • Dwayne Bravo is in fine touch, and he will be key at the death. He has taken 31 wickets in 23 innings this year, including 3/25 last game vs Mumbai. He can also provide crucial lower order runs.
  • Sam Curran is set to return after serving his quarantine period. The left-arm seamer has taken five wickets in three matches vs RCB, including 1/35 earlier this season.
  • Curran concedes runs at 9.72 per over in the second innings of IPL matches (avg. 28.6, SR 17.6) compared to 8.06 bowling first (avg. 26.7, SR 19.9).

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

  • No player has more runs in this fixture than Virat Kohli (27 inns, 909 runs, avg. 39.52, SR 126.96). Also, Kohli has struck 168 runs in five innings at Sharjah at an average of 56 and strike rate of 124.44. It is a crucial game for the RCB skipper who is looking to hit top form.
  • It is clear that when AB de Villiers comes in before the 12th over, RCB often lose. It is crucial that the top order sets a platform for ABD, especially given that CSK is one of ABD’s least favourite opponents (19 inns, 387 runs, avg. 20.37, SR 147.15).
  • Also, ABD is a terrific finisher in a chase, but his record in first innings in IPL is magnificent (84 inns, 3,106 runs, avg. 47.8, SR 162.7).
  • Speaking of setting platforms, Devdutt Padikkal will be key in this regard. Padikkal has made starts vs CSK (3 inns 89 runs, avg. 24.67), including 34 off 15 balls earlier this season.
  • Also, Padikkal prefers to chase in IPL (avg. 38.6) compared to batting first (avg. 30).
  • Glenn Maxwell was a key reason why RCB enjoyed a good first half of the campaign. RCB will be hoping their big purchase can return to his best form here against an opponent whom he enjoys playing against: 8 inns, 248 runs, avg. 35.43, SR 183.70.
  • Also, Maxwell has enjoyed past success at Sharjah, with 197 runs in three innings at an average of 98.50 and strike rate of 203.09.
  • Can Wanindu Hasaranga bounce back after a tough IPL debut against KKR? (Golden duck and 0/20 off two overs). In 2021, Hasaranga has taken 20 wickets in 13 innings at an economy rate of just 5.78.
  • Harshal Patel has proven to be quite expensive since the move away from Chepauk earlier this year. He took three wickets vs CSK earlier this season, but was taken to the cleaners by Jadeja. He remains the top wicket-taker so far in IPL 2021 (17 wickets in eight matches), so how well he nails his execution at the death will be key.
  • Yuzvendra Chahal has a fine record at Sharjah. In five innings, Chahal has taken six wickets at an average and strike rate of 18, with a superb economy rate of 6.06.

Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 28, CSK 18, RCB 9, N/R 1.
  • CSK (191/4) were too good for RCB (122/9) earlier this season.
  • Kyle Jamieson has conceded 9.50 runs per over in eight matches this season, including 0/31 off three overs vs CSK earlier this season.
  • Suresh Raina averages 34.65 in 25 innings for CSK vs RCB (693 runs), but he has issues against quicker bowling (strike rate of just 91 vs pace in 2021). Expect the likes of Jamieson and Siraj to target him with shorter pitched bowling.
  • Mohammad Siraj has taken just one wicket in five innings vs CSK (avg. 132). However, numerous players have been able to defy poor head-to-head records in IPL 2021, and Siraj is a much-improved bowler over the past 12 months or so.
  • AB de Villiers has an average of 20.7 and a strike rate of 112 against finger spinners since IPL 2019.
  • Virat Kohli is 66 runs away from 10,000 T20 runs. Only Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Shoaib Malik and David Warner have reached that landmark.

Possible Playing 11

Ambati Rayudu is in doubt after a copping a blow to his arm against MI. There is no broken bone, but there is significant bruising. Rayudu has a solid record for CSK vs RCB (266 runs, avg. 38, SR 119.28), but if he is unavailable, Robin Uthappa may come in.

Also, Sam Curran is available. He could come in for Josh Hazlewood, given that Bravo was superb against MI.

Chennai Super Kings: 1. Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2. Faf du Plessis, 3. Moeen Ali, 4. Suresh Raina, 5. Ambati Rayudu/Robin Uthappa, 6. Ravindra Jadeja, 7. MS Dhoni (c & wk), 8. Sam Curran, 9. Dwayne Bravo, 10. Shardul Thakur, 11 Deepak Chahar

RCB could look to bring in Tim David, but it would be very harsh if RCB dropped Hasaranga or Jamieson after one game.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1. Virat Kohli (c), 2. Devdutt Padikkal, 3. KS Bharat (wk), 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. AB de Villiers, 6. Sachin Baby, 7. Kyle Jamieson, 8. Wanindu Hasaranga, 9. Harshal Patel, 10. Mohammed Siraj, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal

Sharjah Pitch Report and Weather

Each of the first four matches at Sharjah in IPL 2020 saw a 200+ score in the first innings. Overall, the average first innings score at Sharjah in 2020 was 179.12, with the shorter boundaries a key feature. The team batting first won five of the first six matches on this ground last season, before the chasing team won the last six.

Warm and clear weather is forecast.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

IPL 2021 Match 35: RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BLR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 35: RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

IPL 2021 Match 35: RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BLR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 35: RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

IPL 2021 Match 35: RCB vs CSK Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | BLR vs CSK Dream11 Prediction Today | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings Key Players | Sharjah Pitch Report
IPL 2021 Match 35: RCB vs CSK Fan2Play

Match Prediction

A cracking match in store for the fans. CSK look the better team at the moment, but that is no guarantee of victory in a topsy-turvy IPL. Batting first and setting a score between at least 180-200 could prove crucial.

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Charbel Coorey
Charbel Cooreyhttps://cricblog.net
Charbel is the owner & founder of cricblog.net, based in Sydney, Australia. He started the website to fulfill his love for the game of cricket. Charbel has been featured on other publications including OP India, Times of India, and The Roar, among others. He is also a keen fantasy sports player. Charbel has also had the privilege of interviewing cricketers on the CricBlog TV YouTube channel, including James Neesham, Rassie van der Dussen, Andrew Tye, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat and Saurabh Netravalkar: https://www.youtube.com/@cricblogtv For any story tips or questions, you can contact Charbel at charbelcoorey@cricblog.net.

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