IPL 2019: CSK's strongest playing XI, in the absence of Ngidi, to face RCB 

Middle Order: Suresh Raina, Kedar Jadhav and MS Dhoni (C, WK)

Dhoni and Raina sharing a lighter moment

The Chennai Super Kings middle-order is one of the strongest in the entire league and it consists of three very experienced and flamboyant Indian batsmen.

Suresh Raina is expected to slot in at No. 3 and he'll want to make some runs right from the onset of this season after an average outing last time. The crowd will be behind "Chinna Thala" as he's affectionately called and against RCB, Raina will want to do something special for the CSK fans after his failure against KKR last season.

Kedar Jadhav spells well for CSK because this provides a lot of flexibility to CSK's batting. Both MS Dhoni and Jadhav can be used as floaters and their positions interchanged as per circumstances just like on the international platform. Also, Jadhav's slingy off-break is also at his best with Dhoni behind the stumps and you can be assured that Dhoni will get a couple of overs out of his golden arm on a slow Chennai track.

Dhoni walking out to bat will be the dream come true for most of the fans who have battled their way out to secure the match tickets. He has looked in good touch ahead of this season and last season saw the return of Dhoni as he scored 477 runs with 3 50+ scores, an average of 77 and a strike-rate north of 150.