Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will lock horns with arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their first-faceoff of the season. In the past, both the teams have crossed paths on 24 occasions, with CSK dominating on 16 instances while RCB getting the wood on them on 8 occasions.
Ahead of the clash of the titans, RCB star player, AB de Villiers, said that the team is just a few performances away from delivering their best show. The batting maestro further added that the team needs to get the momentum going in their favor.
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“We got a decent start, a couple of disappointing performances but all in all we are not far off from our best and I think we know what is required to get the momentum going. I have been feeling alright in the last 5 matches, I did not have a good game in the last match of ours, I will be focusing on getting the swing of things,” said the 36-year-old in a video posted on RCB’s official handle.
AB de Villiers has been second to Devdutt Padikkal (178 runs) in terms of most runs scored in the ongoing edition of IPL. Averaging 51.66 and striking at 176.13, the Protea cricketer has amassed 155 runs with two half-centuries under his belt. His experience of over 150 IPL appearances would surely come to great use versus MS Dhoni’s men.
This is an opportunity for us to test ourselves: Simon Katich
Speaking on the forthcoming feud against three-time champions, CSK, RCB head coach Simon Katich feels that it is a great challenge and an opportunity for the Kohli-led unit to test their strength.
“CSK is a very proud franchise, and this is an opportunity for us to test ourselves against them. Regardless of who we are playing, when you are coming against Dhoni and his crew, it will be a really good challenge for us.
We know it’s a big game against CSK, we have had three days to prepare for this game. We have a squad, we have plenty of options and if we feel there is a need to rotate guys because of fatigue or through injury, then we have guys who can step in,” said Katich.
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So far, RCB has scored 3 wins in 5 matches and are at the 5th spot with 6 points and an NRR of -1.355. On the other hand, CSK is currently placed at the sixth position with 2 wins in 6 matches, 4 points, and an NRR of -0.371.
RCB will take on the Dhoni-led CSK in the second match of the double-header in Dubai on Saturday.
