IPL 2018, RCB vs CSK Match Prediction: Who will win today's match between Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings?

A lone warrior, Virat Kohli, was fighting the battle for his team until AB de Villiers stepped up in their previous game against DD. Winning two out of five matches, RCB have remained quite inconsistent, continuing their momentum from the previous season. On the other hand, CSK found a knight in shining armor at every crucial juncture in every match they've played. Despite looking confident with a balanced team, even the returning CSK team are guilty of being dependant on one hero to save their game every time.

The last time the Bangalore team won a match against CSK was in the Chepauk, four years ago. The sporting battle between the teams is one to look out for as the roars are equally loud from both the sides.

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Date: 25th April

Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

Time: 8.00 PM IST

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If Royal Challengers Bangalore bat first:

Predicted score - 175+

The batting woes have continued for RCB, haunting them since forever. They still seem very dependant on Kohli-AB, and if they fail, the entire batting unit drops. In the previous match, AB's 90 steered them to the victory against DD. The first win against KXIP was also due to his blistering 57-run knock. It was Kohli's lone 92-run innings that stood strong against the MI team, where the defending champions won their only game in this season.

However, Mandeep Singh has been making some noise down the order, being steady and focused in his strokes. If all-rounders Washington Sundar, Corey Anderson, Chris Woakes are to fail, like they did in other matches, the batting line-up ends with Mandeep, who walks in at 5. If Sarfaraz Khan is to regain form and provide the reason for his retention, the team would be at an advantage.

A wobbly RCB batting department is pitted against a strong-looking CSK's bowling unit. Two names have been doing rounds for the visitors - Deepak Chahar and Karn Sharma. They are seeing some of their best days in their cricketing career, as Chahar produced a figure of 3/15 (4 overs) in the previous match and Sharma picked up 2/13 (1.3 overs) in the match against RR. With the likes of spinning options they have, the Chinnaswamy pitch would assist them if they are to bowl first.

If Chennai Super Kings bat first:

Predicted score- 190+

Apart from the consistent Ambati Rayudu, the Chennai team has found some or the other batsman who blasts off against the opponents to seal a victory. While it was Bravo in the first, Billings in the second, Watson in the third and Rayudu in the fourth, Dhoni also got his best form in the only match they lost. They have been convincingly in-form throughout the season.

They haven't gotten below the 180-run mark in all the matches they've played, batting first or second. In the batting paradise, they are expected to smash the RCB bowlers to put up a 200+ total. But again, RCB has seen a couple of their bowlers bounce back to form. They have two names from the team competing for the purple cap as well.

Umesh Yadav has been well for the team, not leaking many runs and picking crucial wickets. Chris Woakes has also been adding value with the ball in hand and had also got his hands on the purple cap. In the recent match, the team discovered a gem in Mohammed Siraj who was not only good with ball but also in saving runs on the field. Virat's expression clearly suggested contention with the youngster and the pace attack have never looked so satisfying.

On the other hand, the spin-bowling has been troubling the Bangalore team surprisingly. Chahal, the go-to man for the skipper, hasn't been getting wickets while the youngster, Washington Sundar is struggling as well.

Match prediction

Although RCB walk in as the weak side, this is a tight contest. Given the two previous matches of IPL, where DD almost won against the might KXIP and SRH defended a below-par total of 118, there isn't really a sure-shot prediction of a winner. This IPL has been giving nail-biting matches, and this battle will be no less.

In this fierce South Indian contest, RCB will look to continue their winning momentum while CSK would be rearing to sit atop the table.

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