Cricket

The highly anticipated "El Clasico" of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 is set to unfold on Saturday, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clash in a winner-takes-all battle for the final playoff spot.With both teams tied on 14 points from 13 matches, the equation is simple: RCB must defeat CSK by 18 runs to surpass their higher run-rate. For CSK, even a loss will suffice if the margin is less than 18 runs. A win, however narrow, will secure their place in the playoffs.The match will be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where RCB have won their last five matches. However, the threat of rain looms large, and a washout would eliminate RCB and send CSK through.CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and elected to field first, bringing in Mitchell Santner to replace Moeen Ali in the playing eleven. RCB captain Faf du Plessis said he would have bowled first as well, and his team remains unchanged.The match promises to be a thrilling contest between two of the most successful teams in IPL history. RCB, led by Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, have been in excellent form, winning their last five matches. CSK, on the other hand, have struggled for consistency but have shown signs of improvement in recent games.The key players to watch will be Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and Dinesh Karthik for RCB, and Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, and MS Dhoni for CSK.With the stakes so high, both teams will be desperate to emerge victorious and secure their place in the playoffs. The match is expected to be a close and exciting affair, with the winner likely to be decided by the smallest of margins.

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has attributed the team's defeat in the IPL's "El Clasico" against Chennai Super Kings to the impact of Matheesha Pathirana. The high-scoring encounter at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday saw CSK emerge victorious by 20 runs.After a blistering start by Mumbai's opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, Pathirana's introduction in the eighth over proved pivotal. He dismissed Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav in quick succession, breaking the 70-run partnership."Definitely it was gettable. But I think they bowled pretty well, Pathirana was the difference. He came and got the wickets, at the same time they were also quite smart with their approach. They used the longer boundary well," Pandya said after the match.Pathirana's wickets set Mumbai back, forcing them to chase the game. CSK's bowlers, including Shardul Thakur and Mustafizur Rahman, exploited the conditions with variations. Thakur, despite conceding 33 runs in his first three overs, came back strongly to concede just two runs in his final over.Tushar Deshpande's dismissal of Pandya further tightened the equation for Mumbai. "They were smart with the plans and their approach. They got the hang of it, there's a man behind the stumps (Dhoni) who tells them what's working, that helps. It (pitch) was holding up a bit and getting difficult," Pandya added.Earlier, CSK had posted a formidable 206/4, thanks to Shivam Dube's unbeaten 66 and Ruturaj Gaikwad's 69. MS Dhoni's late cameo provided the finishing touches.In reply, Rohit Sharma's unbeaten 105 was not enough to guide Mumbai to victory. The defeat leaves Mumbai with a 1-2 record in the IPL, while CSK improves to 2-1.

The highly anticipated "El Clasico" of the Indian Premier League (IPL) between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) on Sunday lived up to its billing, with CSK emerging victorious in a thrilling encounter.The match witnessed exceptional performances from both sides. Youngsters like Mukesh Choudhary and Tilak Varma shone for CSK, while Rohit Sharma's century for MI was a testament to his class. However, it was MS Dhoni's blistering 20 runs off just four balls that sealed the deal for CSK.Despite their loss, MI still have a chance to qualify for the playoffs. However, they will not have the opportunity to avenge their defeat against CSK in the league stage of IPL 2024. This is because the teams have been placed in different groups.MI is in Group A alongside Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, and Delhi Capitals. CSK, on the other hand, is in Group B with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bangalore.According to the IPL 2024 format, teams within the same group face each other twice in home and away matches. Additionally, they play four matches against teams from the other group, either at home or away. Against one of the five teams, they play both at home and away.The draw for IPL 2024 has resulted in MI facing CSK only once in the league stage. Therefore, it is impossible for MI to avenge their Sunday loss during the league stage.However, if both teams qualify for the playoffs and face off again, it will provide MI with an opportunity to seek redemption.