In the opening match of the Indian Premier League 2024, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face the defending champions Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on March 22 (Friday). In a surprising move characteristic of MS Dhoni’s style, the former CSK skipper handed over the team’s captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad on the eve of their match against RCB.

While Ruturaj Gaikwad’s team grapples with filling the opening slot in the absence of Devon Conway, Faf du Plessis-led RCB is tasked with finding the right spin combination.

Despite these challenges, both teams boast formidable batting line-ups capable of overpowering any opposition on their day. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, and a resurgent Ajinkya Rahane form the backbone of CSK’s batting arsenal.

Here’s the predicted playing 11 for Chennai In CSK vs RCB, IPL 2024 match

Matheesha Pathirana To Miss First Few Matches Of IPL 2024

Sri Lankan speedster Matheesha Pathirana’s role as a death bowler was pivotal in CSK’s success in IPL season 2023. However, a hamstring injury is set to sideline him for several matches early in IPL season 2024, dealing a significant blow to the team. Nevertheless, Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman, despite facing injury concerns during the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka, has joined the squad in Chennai. There remains uncertainty over whether he will be included in the starting lineup.

Rachin Ravindra Set For IPL Debut

With a remarkable performance in the ODI World Cup 2023 in India, scoring 578 runs at an average of 64.22, the Kiwi top-order batter has established himself as a key player. In the absence of his international counterpart, Rachin Ravindra appears to be the ideal candidate to fill the opening slot. Known for his proficiency against pace bowling and ability to handle spinners effectively, he possesses the essential skills required for success at Chepauk.

Chennai’s Probable Playing 11 For CSK vs RCB, IPL 2024  

Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Rachin Ravindra, Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Maheesh Theekshana / Moeen Ali, Deepak Chahar, Mustafizur Rahman / Tushar Deshpande, Shardul Thakur