Big picture: CSK ravaged by injuries, illness
Earlier this week, when quizzed about updates on the injuries in Chennai Super Kings' side, coach Stephen Fleming jokingly asked reporters if we had an extra half an hour as the clock ticked towards midnight. Fleming saw the funny side of things at the time, but with Super Kings set to play four of their next six games away from home, he will be scrambling to assemble fast-bowling resources.
Deepak Chahar, Sisanda Magala, Simarjeet Singh and Ben Stokes are all injured while Matheesha Pathirana has only recently recovered from Covid-19. Super Kings had opted against rushing Pathirana back into action in the home game against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday, but now they might have to throw him into the mix at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, although Dwaine Pretorius offers another option.
Royal Challengers Bangalore have also been hit by injuries this IPL, but despite that, they look in better shape than Super Kings, especially on the bowling front. Mohammed Siraj has excelled in the powerplay, local boy Vijaykumar Vyshak has seamlessly transitioned into the XI from being a net bowler, while Harshal Patel has also found some form. Glenn Maxwell has bowled just one over this season but is likely to have a more substantial role with the ball against a left-hander-heavy Super Kings line-up.
On Saturday afternoon, Royal Challengers faltered in the second half of their innings against Delhi Capitals, but their bowlers defied the Chinnaswamy conditions to successfully defend 174. Can their bowlers do the job again on Monday, this time in a night game?
Form guide
Royal Challengers Bangalore WLLW (most recent match first)
Chennai Super Kings LWWL
Team news
Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has linked up with Royal Challengers and will complete his rehab in India. He is unlikely to be available for selection for Monday's fixture.
Toss and Impact Player strategy
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Royal Challengers are likely to put faith in Anuj Rawat once again as their Impact Player. He could probably replace one of the bowlers when they chase.
Possible bat-first XI: 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Faf du Plessis (capt), 3 Mahipal Lomror, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Shahbaz Ahmed, 6 Anuj Rawat, 7 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 8 Harshal Patel, 9 Wanindu Hasaranga, 10 Wayne Parnell/David Willey, 11 Mohammed Siraj
Possible bowl-first XI: 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Faf du Plessis (capt), 3 Mahipal Lomror, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Shahbaz Ahmed, 6 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7 Harshal Patel, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Wayne Parnell/David Willey, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Vijaykumar Vyshak
The RCB fast bowler showed off his knuckle-ball and changed his pace at the right times against Delhi Capitals
Chennai Super Kings
Podi Malinga Pathirana is likely to replace the injured Magala in Super Kings' XI. Stokes, who is working his way back from a minor toe injury, bowled at the nets in Bengaluru, but he is unlikely to play on Monday. Mike Hussey, Super Kings' batting coach, suggested that MS Dhoni would manage his knee injury "as best as he can along the way".
If Super Kings bowl first, they could start with Akash Singh and consider bringing Ambati Rayudu in as Impact Player during their chase.
Possible bat-first XI: 1 Devon Conway, 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 3 Ajinkya Rahane, 4 Moeen Ali, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Ambati Rayudu, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Matheesha Pathirana/Dwaine Pretorius 11 Tushar Deshpande
Possible bowl-first XI: 1 Devon Conway, 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 3 Ajinkya Rahane, 4 Moeen Ali, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 8 Maheesh Theekshana, 9 Matheesha Pathirana/Dwaine Pretorius, 10 Tushar Deshpande, 11 Akash Singh
Pitch and conditions
The Chinnaswamy track is usually full of runs and the ball often skids on under lights in dewy conditions. Fifty-seven sixes have been hit across three matches at the Chinnaswamy - the most at a venue this season. The weather is expected to be fine for the duration of the game.
Stats that matter
Ravindra Jadeja has dominated Maxwell in the IPL, dismissing him six times in ten innings while keeping him to 49 off 40 balls. He has also kept Virat Kohli quiet, conceding only 140 runs off 131 balls against him for three wickets.
Dhoni has smashed Siraj for 51 runs off 28 balls without being dismissed in the IPL.
Wayne Parnell or David Willey could pose a threat to Ruturaj Gaikwad. The Super Kings opener has fallen to left-arm seamers 11 times in 19 innings since IPL 2020. No other batter has been dismissed more times by left-arm seamers during this period.
Quotes
"It's always a great occasion, especially playing here. They've got a fantastic team and they've been playing some good cricket and got some confidence from their win the other day. So, I feel we have to play at our best to hopefully win the match."
Super Kings' batting coach Mike Hussey wants his players to bring their A game
