Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 25th Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: Indian Premier League 2020 Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai Date & Time: Oct 10, 06:00 PM LOCAL

Kohli trumped Dhoni in the latest edition of RCB v CSK! © BCCI

'Too many holes in the ship'

Dhoni: When you start looking at the results of the previous game or the next game it really puts extra burden on you. I feel when it comes to our bowling we have shown we can restrict the opposition, either we give too many in the first six or the last four. Too many holes in the ship and when you try to plug one there is water flowing from another. We need to get our act together. Everything needs to work in the same game to get a result. Once we get a result in our favour it will be slightly different for us.

Kohli: It was one of our most complete performances. We got into a bit of a tricky position in the first half. From there on, we pushed forward. We spoke during the second timeout (with the bat) that 140-150 would be good. Ended up getting more than that. It was a tricky pitch. Really pleased to get two points. We have back-to-back games coming up, so important to build momentum. It's about understanding the conditions and respecting the game. Instead of trying to hit every ball into the second tier of the stadium. Having played so much cricket, especially T20 cricket, I have learnt that if you are set at the death, you can capitalize.

losing five of their first seven matches 2010 (they went to win IPL & CLT20 later in the year) 2020vRCB

hit their first six of the innings in the third ball of the 16th over - the longest any team took in an innings in The previous most was CSK's 14.2 overs against SRH at the same venue.vsRCB

's last three Powerplay scores vs RCB 16/1 Chennai 2019 32/4 Bengaluru 2019 26/2 Dubai 2020vRCB

29(27) 20(21) 52(35) 8(7) 13(14) 2(9) 124 runs in six innings at 20.66 (SR 109.73)

120 12

Will it swing in Dubai tonight?

Deepak Chahar would want it to. He has the new ball. Look out for that inswing to Finch.

There is swing, but Chahar chooses to bowl the one that leaves the Australian and beats him neck and crop, not once but thrice. Could he have slipped in an inswinger in there?

Sam Curran from the other end. A decent over that ends with a half-volley on the pads that Padikkal eases to the boundary with a flick of his wrist.

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JUST IN: KKR have pulled off a stunning two-run over KXIP

All the updates over here.

Toss & Teams: Morris makes his RCB debut; Kohli opts to bat

Moeen Ali will sit out. Gurkeerat Mann comes back for Md. Siraj. CSK drop Kedar Jadhav and hand N. Jagadeesan his IPL debut! Big call.

Pre-match read: Why CSK win and RCB lose

No don't get triggered by the headline. Freddie Wilde and Tim Wigmore explain how the divergent fortunes of Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore started at the first auction in 2008 and how it has widened over time. You must read this.

Meanwhile... the KXIP v KKR game is a cliff hanger

Follow the blog here for blow by blow updates.

Prelude - CSK vs RCB

Beyond the context of the game - two important points and bragging rights until the next game - this CSK vs RCB contest is best setup through the prism of their two leaders. Virat Kohli is still the impassioned, exhibitionist leader who bares his emotions on the field. He will yelp, plead, jump and feel every pulsating moment of a contest. MS Dhoni coldly runs his hoodwink job from behind the stumps - often with a silent nod of appreciation or the shrug of the shoulder.

For a while now RCB have been waiting to burst the CSK bubble. They'd lost seven in a row before pulling one back last year at the Chinnaswamy Stadium by the barest of margins. Is that reason enough to believe the narrative has flipped?

Perhaps not. However, it is important to note that this mid-season clash will be played with RCB above CSK on the standings. They've looked the more balanced of the two teams although their two defeats so far have been heavy and could hurt them later in the league. CSK, on the other hand, have looked every bit heavy-legged as their moniker 'dad's army' would suggest.

The sight of a familiar rival, one they've relished besting for so long now, should turbo charge them into putting in a better performance.

It promises to be a cracker. Strap yourself in!