BENGALURU: Forget passes, it is hard to lay hands on tickets for Saturday’s IPL fixture between RCB and CSK at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium even if one pays a ‘lottery-ticket win’ premium.
The mad scramble is not unusual for IPL’s annual southern derby, but interest in the game has skyrocketed this season in anticipation of this being the curtain call at the venue, at the very least, for CSK stalwart MS Dhoni. Also, it could be the final face-off between Dhoni and Kohli.
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That the contest is also a knockout clash for the two sides, who are vying for the lone playoff berth up for grabs, has also made it a compelling must-watch. A win will ensure a top-4 finish for Chennai, but the equation is a little more complicated for the home team.
If RCB bat first and score 200+ runs, they will need to win by at least 18 runs. In the event of chasing, the hosts will have to achieve the target with more than 11 balls to spare. The mathematics is far more complex if it is a raintruncated tie.
Intriguing as the contest may be on paper, for any of it to transpire, it is imperative the skies remain clear. However, the Met department suggests that is unlikely.
It is almost a tradition for at least one match of the IPL to be affected by rain in the city and since that hasn’t come to pass this season, Saturday’s game could well be the one that keeps the tradition going.
A thunderstorm is forecast for the duration but if the rain holds up for a while, the state-of-the-art SubAir drainage system will ensure players can take the field in quick time.
