IPL Opener: CSK veterans prepared to trudge out against RCB

Chennai, Mar 22 They made 'Father's Army' sound cool a year ago and defending champions Chennai Super Kings' fight solidified veterans are prepared to prove that age is only a number when they take on Virat Kohli's enduring underachievers Royal Challengers Bangalore in Saturday's opening IPL encounter.

For Virat Kohli, it couldn't be a greater statement if his young side could begin off with a bang at Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 'spritual home', an errand which will be easier said than done.

CSK's core team is the oldest in the competition - 37-year-olds Dhoni and Shane Watson, 35-year-old Dwayne Bravo, 34-year-old Faf du Plessis, 33-year-olds Ambati Rayudu and Kedar Jadhav, soon-to-be 32 Suresh Raina.

Then they have two spinners with truckloads of experience - 39-year-old Imran Tahir and 38-year-old Harbhajan Singh, who have capacity to change the composition of a game with one-off over.

Even , even the two out-of-support India players, leg-spinner Karn Sharma (31) and seamer Mohit Sharma (30) are on the wrong side of 30's.

However when it comes to match awareness, the CSK players are second to none.

The most consistent franchise of the Indian Premier League, who have always been in the best four, are a considerable side at home with a moderate turner and a vocal crowd supplementing the quality.

While CSK is a three-time champion, the Bengaluru establishment is likely the greatest underachiever notwithstanding bragging probably the best names in its squad.

The outcome of Saturday's amusement will rely upon which group bowls better and holds its nerve as both side have players who can turn a match on its head in a jiffy.

CSK's Ambati Rayudu and Ravindra Jadeja will be quick to venture up their exhibitions and seal a spot in the Indian World Cup squad. While RCB paceman Umesh Yadav will also look to sparkle in the IPL and make a case for selection in the England-bound playing XI.

A lot has been said about the remaining burden, particularly that of the bowlers, which should be observed. CSK head mentor Stephen Fleming said on Wednesday that it was up to the players and as experts, they would know about the requirements.

CSK enjoy an impressive record against RCB, having won 15 matches and lost seven with one no-result. The hosts haven't lost to its rival since 2014.

While the home group has well-balanced squad with the greater part of the bases secured, RCB is confronting concerns over the availability of some foreign players at specific phases of the tournament.

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal will again be the key man for RCB as he has been over the past seasons and will require the remainder of the bowling attack to step up.

Kohli has dependably driven from the front and his exploits in the IPL are very much reported, the RCB captain will start one more crusade mindful that his structure could demonstrate crucial in the achievement of his side in the gruelling tournament.

Squads(from)

Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (skipper and WK), Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Murali Vijay, Kedar Jadhav, Sam Billings, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Shorey, Chaitanya Bishnoi, Rituraj Gaikwad, Dwayne Bravo, Karn Sharma, Imran Tahir, Harbhajan Singh, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Mohit Sharma, K M Asif, David Willey, Deepak Chahar, N Jagadeesan (wk).

Regal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli (chief), AB de Villiers, Parthiv Patel (WK), Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer, Shivam Dube, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Washington Sundar, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, Heinrich Klaasen (WK), Moeen Ali, Colin de Grandhomme, Pawan Negi, Tim Southee, Akshdeep Nath, Milind Kumar, Devdutt Padikkal, Gurkeerat Singh, Prayas Ray Barman, Kulwant Kejroliya, Navdeep Saini, Himmat Singh.