IPL 2019: CSK wins toss, elects to bowl first in Chepauk

The RCB defeated CSK at the Chepauk for the last time back in 2008. Since then, they have come to Chennai and always tasted defeat. History makes the yellow army stronger against the red brigade as the CSK are three-time title winner and RCB are yet win one

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will be locking horns with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the first match of the 12^th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). History makes the yellow army stronger against the red brigade as the CSK are three-time title winner and RCB are yet win one.

The RCB defeated CSK at the Chepauk for the last time back in 2008. Since then, they have come to Chennai and always tasted defeat. RCB's fortune has not favoured them much, in year 2018, the star-studded Virat-led team failed to qualify for the playoffs

Veteran Dhoni after winning the decided to bowl first and said that he was not sure much about the wicket and the target to set. RCB skipper Kohli said that he too would have opted to bowl first if he would have won the toss. RCB’s four foreign players are ABD, Hetmyer, Moeen Ali and CDG. Kohli said that they will open the innings today with Parthiv Patel and hinted that either ABD or Moeen will bat at three, depending on the situation of the match.

“We would have bowled too. There was lot of dew in the last few days. I will open the innings today with Parthiv Patel.”, Virat said. Our four foreign players are ABD, Hetmyer, Moeen Ali and CDG. Either ABD or Moeen will bat at three, depending on the situation of the match."

Shimron Hetmyer, Navdeep Saini and Shivam Dube are making their debut for RCB in this match and Moeen and Chahal are the two spinners RCB will be playing. CSK are playing three spinners Tahir, Harbhajan and Jadeja.

Toss winning skipper MS Dhoni said,” I think it was one of the great comebacks. We had our challenges and we overcame them to win the trophy. We will be roaring for sure but basics are very important.”

For the first time in the IPL history, the Committee of Administrators (CoA) has decided that the opening ceremony funds budgeted at INR 20 crores will be donated among the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy.

Teams:

Chennai Super Kings (Playing XI): Ambati Rayudu, Shane Watson, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir

Royal Challengers Bangalore (Playing XI): Parthiv Patel(w), Virat Kohli(c), Moeen Ali, AB de Villiers, Shimron Hetmyer, Shivam Dube, Colin de Grandhomme, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini