IPL match today, RCB vs CSK: Team prediction, head-to-head, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch report, Bengaluru weather update

NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru have a potential playoff spot within reach, while Chennai Super Kings are in search of a morale-boosting win. But beyond the immediate team objectives, Saturday’s IPL clash promises a nostalgic spectacle — a possible final face-off between two legends of the game, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, in the league.
Before dwelling on that emotional subplot, it’s worth noting the stakes. A win for RCB would take their tally to 16 points, putting them in a strong position to secure a place in the Qualifiers with three matches still to go.

For CSK, already out of playoff contention, a win could provide a late spark — a chance to build some momentum and finish mid-table, steering clear of the embarrassment of ending up at the bottom of the standings.
RCB vs CSK: Pitch Report
The pitch at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has offered some help to bowlers this season, making run-scoring a tougher task for batters, who’ve had to work hard for their runs. However, there have been instances where the surface has favoured batters, allowing them to play with freedom and capitalise on the short boundaries for maximum returns. If the pitch leans towards batting-friendly conditions, bowlers will need to stick to a stump-to-stump line and use variations wisely to outsmart the batters and take wickets.
On the other hand, any assistance from the surface will allow them to bowl more aggressively and apply pressure to restrict the opposition. Dew is likely to play a crucial role, especially in the second innings — a trend that has significantly affected bowling teams throughout the season. The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, home to RCB, has hosted 99 IPL matches so far. Of these, teams batting first have won 42 games, while those chasing have won 53. The highest successful run chase at this venue is 186/3, achieved by the Deccan Chargers against RCB in 2010.

RCB vs CSK: Predicted playing XIs
RCB: Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal
CSK: Shaik Rasheed, Ayush Mhatre, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda, MS Dhoni (C/WK), Noor Ahmad, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana
RCB vs CSK: Squads
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (c) Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma (w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma, Lungi Ngidi, Liam Livingstone, Swapnil Singh, Manoj Bhandage, Rasikh Dar Salam, Nuwan Thushara, Jacob Bethell, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh.
Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (c, wk), Shaik Rasheed, Ayush Mhatre, Deepak Hooda, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana, Anshul Kamboj, R Ashwin, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Jamie Overton, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi, Shreyas Gopal, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, C Andre Siddarth, Vansh Bedi.

RCB vs CSK: Head-to-head
Matches played: 34
RCB won: 12
CSK won: 21
NR: 1
Tied: 0
Out of the 34 matches played between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, CSK have emerged victorious 21 times, while RCB have won 12 matches. One game ended with no result, and none have resulted in a tie.
RCB vs CSK: Bengaluru Weather Report
Rain is unlikely to disrupt the RCB vs CSK clash in Bengaluru, with the weather forecast indicating clear skies.
Temperatures are expected to peak at 33°C and dip to a low of 22°C.
RCB vs CSK: Live streaming details
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings will be broadcast live on Star Sports Network. It will be available for live streaming on JioStar - app and website.