6.59 pm: That will be all from us for this match. Stay tuned for match report, and more on the site. Follow Scroll.in’s coverage of IPL 2020 here.

Virat Kohli is honest in his assessment of the bowling:

“What you saw in the second innings wasn’t a true reflection of how difficult the pitch was. We didn’t hit the areas. Too many boundary balls. They bowled really well. We hardly got any drive balls from them. We were looking for 150, but we were happy with 145. Our extra pace might be a factor but that can’t be an excuse. We just didn’t bowl enough slower balls. No change of pace, no bouncers. We saw how difficult it was to get under those slower balls.”   

— Quotes via iplt20.com

CSK win by 8 wickets: It’s been a strange tournament. Two of the most comfortable run-chases in IPL 2020 have come from CSK, while they have also lost by a match by 10 wickets.

Points table after RCB vs CSK

Team Pld Won Lost Net RR Pts
1  Mumbai Indians 10 7 3 +1.448 14
2  Delhi Capitals 11 7 4 +0.434 14
3  Royal Challengers Bangalore 11 7 4 +0.092 14
4  Kolkata Knight Riders 11 6 5 -0.476 12
5  Kings XI Punjab 11 5 6 -0.103 10
6  Sunrisers Hyderabad 11 4 7 +0.029 8
7  Chennai Super Kings 12 4 8 -0.602 8
8  Rajasthan Royals 11 4 7 -0.620 8

CSK win by 8 wickets: Gaikwad finishes with a six over fine leg! Stylish finish to a stylish innings.

18.2: Gaikwad swings over square leg for four. Sangakkara is impressed with the young man.

After 18 overs, CSK 140/2 (Gaikwad 55, Dhoni 19): Nope, still taking deep. Five dot balls after the first-ball four in that over.

17.1: Well, that’s nice from Dhoni! Not taking till the last over. Down the ground off Saini for a one-bounce four.

After 17 overs, CSK 136/2 (Gaikwad 55, Dhoni 15): Doesn’t really look like CSK are worried about NRR at the moment. Not like they seem too keen to think about the mathematical possibility. Five runs from Chahal’s over.

After 16 overs, CSK 131/2 (Gaikwad 53, Dhoni 13): Tidy over from Saini.

CSK’s run-rate is -0.733 at the moment. They are not mathematically out of the tournament, mind you.

After 15 overs, CSK 127/2: Back-to-back boundaries for Dhoni. Takes on Morris down the leg side and plays two well-placed pull shots. CSK are headed for a big win. 19 off 30 needed.

After 14 overs, CSK 116/2: Dhoni is in at No 4, by the way.

FIFTY FOR RUTURAJ GAIKWAD: There’s some spark, eh? A lovely half century from Gaikwad off 42 balls and he gets a generous round of applause from his team. His first IPL fifty and it would mean a lot to him.

13.3 overs: WICKET! Yuzi Chahal provides the breakthrough for RCB but it might be too late. Rayudu is bowled after an impressive 39 off 27 balls. The batsman had taken a long break during timeout, didn’t help his rhythm it looks like. Muted celebrations from RCB.

35 needed off 42 balls for CSK...

After 13 overs, CSK 111/1 (Gaikwad 48, Rayudu 38): Decent over for RCB but this partnership has all but sealed the game for CSK. Timeout signalled. 0/27 for Washington in his four.

After 12 overs, CSK 105/1 (Gaikwad 44, Rayudu 36): 1-4-1-2-0-6! Gaikwad with a lovely cover drive for four, Rayudu with a massive hit over midwicket for six. 14 runs from that over! It’s not been Siraj’s day in Dubai.


Live updates: https://scroll.in/field/976713/ipl-2020-royal-challengers-bangalore-vs-chennai-super-kings-live-score-and-commentary-of-rcb-v-csk

After 11 overs, CSK 91/1 (Gaikwad 39, Rayudu 27): CSK are not taking their foot off the gas. Rayudu helps himself to a boundary off Washington’s over.

After 10 overs, CSK 82/1 (Gaikwad 37, Rayudu 20): 6-0-4! Rayudu takes on Saini. Width on offer twice, the CSK batsman smashes a cut for six followed by another one for four. The men in yellow are absolutely cruising in Dubai. 64 needed off 60 balls.

Spark alert: Two sixes, two fours for Ruturaj Gaikwad so far. He has shown some sparkling footwork, especially against spinners. It’s been a bright innings.

After 9 overs, CSK 71/1 (Gaikwad 37, Rayudu 9): Another brilliant shot from Gaikwad. Sparkling footwork against Ali, lofts one straight for a six. Rayudu gets lucky with an outside edge for four as CSK enter the timeout in a superb position.

After 8 overs, CSK 59/1 (Gaikwad 30, Rayudu 4): A big appeal for LBW against Rayudu by Chahal but the batsman had come far down the pitch. Umpire’s call, replays show. Gaikwad plays a superb sweep shot for four. He has looked good tonight.

After 7 overs, CSK 53/1 (Gaikwad 25, Rayudu 3): Ali into the attack and gets one to stop on Gaikwad right away. Doesn’t carry back to the bowler. Five singles from that over.

After 6 overs, CSK 48/1 (Gaikwad 23, Rayudu 0): Gaikwad plays out four dot balls to finish the powerplay, perhaps because CSK have a decent score on the board. (The pitch will slow down, perhaps he should have been a bit more aggressive there? Only time will tell).

5.1: WICKET! Morris comes back and strikes to remove his compatriot. Du Plessis skies one to Siraj. CSK 46/1. RCB needed that.

After 5 overs, CSK 46/0 (Gaikwad 21, du Plessis 25): Chahal should have had a wicket off the first ball but the thick outside edge off Gaikwad beats both ABD and Kohli. Good over from the spinner.

After 4 overs, CSK 40/0 (Gaikwad 17, du Plessis 23): What a start this is for CSK. A lovely lofted cover drive by Gaikwad for four is followed by a four and six behind the wicket off Faf’s bat. Kohli not happy with Siraj’s lengths.

After 3 overs, CSK 25/0 (Gaikwad 12, du Plessis 13): And that would mean so much for Gaikwad. So much has been talked about him, he shows why he is rated highly as he dances down the pitch and lofts one over off-side for a six off Sundar. Such a good-looking shot that was.

After 2 overs, CSK 14/0 (Gaikwad 3, du Plessis 10): FOUR, SIX! Good over for CSK. After a ball stopped on him from a good length, du Plessis gets a gift on the pads from Morris. Glanced for four. Off the last ball, a length ball is driven elegantly over midwicket for six.

After 1 over, CSK 1/0 (Gaikwad 1, du Plessis 0): Tidy as ever from Washington. After four dot balls, Gaikwad taps one to long on to get off the mark and avoid a third duck in the tournament.

Washington Sundar will start off...

Watch highlights of Virat Kohli’s innings:

Who are you backing at this stage? Dhoni will hope the revamped batting lineup shows some spark tonight.

Innings break: It was hard work for Virat Kohli and Ab de Villiers on a pitch that doesn’t seem easy to bat on. Will their partnership be the difference or can CSK’s struggling batting lineup pull off a win in Dubai? Remember, KXIP managed to defend a smaller total last night on this pitch.

End of 20 overs: RCB 145/6: Last 3 overs, CSK conceded just 20 runs and picked up four wickets.

19.3: Chahar breaches the defence of Morris as CSK pick up another wicket.

After 19 overs, RCB 138/5: Faf du Plessis to the ball at the boundary line: “YOU SHALL NOT PASS!” Takes another lovely catch to dismiss Virat Kohli. What a fielder he is. Curran picks up 2 in the over as Kohli’s fighting innings comes to an end.

FIFTY FOR KOHLI! Second half century of the season against CSK, third overall of IPL 2020 for Virat Kohli. 50 off 42 balls on a pitch that has not been easy to bat on. He gets there with a single off a high full toss from Curran, won’t get to face the free hit.

18.1 overs: Taking the pace off works again, this time Sam Curran gets Moeen Ali to mistime one down the ground. The bat turns in the hands again. Santner with the catch. RCB 132/4.

After 18 overs, RCB 132/3 - PARTNERSHIP BROKEN! Ab de Villiers cannot get the timing right on a knuckle ball from Deepak Chahar. The bat turned in his hand as he looked to swing one all the way. Guess who makes no mistake at long on? Faf Du Plessis, of course. Another catch to his name,

After 17 overs, RCB 125/2 (Kohli 42, ABD 39): MILESTONE ALERT: Virat Kohli becomes the fifth batsman to hit 200 sixes in the IPL. That was a shot in anger too as he danced down the track and sent one soaring over the fence off Jadeja’s bowling. Not been easy for him today.

Jadeja to continue after the timeout...

After 16 overs, RCB 114/2 (Kohli 33, ABD 37): A high full toss in that over from Monu, but the free hit is a lovely yorker on ABD’s pads. But the over is further spoiled by a ball on ABD’s pads at the end. 13 from the over as RCB eye a final push.

Monu back into the attack...

After 15 overs, RCB 101/2 (Kohli 30, ABD 29): Intent from Kohli but not timing. Just four singles from that over by Jadeja as 100 comes up for RCB.

Tahir finishes 0/30 after 4 overs...

After 14 overs, RCB 97/2 (Kohli 28, ABD 27): Another delightful shot by ABD off Tahir. Placed past long off. Kohli finally hits his first boundary too as Tahir’s spell comes to an end. Powerfully hit down the ground. That’s the over RCB needed to perhaps find a move on.

After 13 overs, RCB 86/2 (Kohli 24, ABD 20): Chance again! Once again, by Jadeja’s standards, maybe that should have been taken. Another return catch put down, once again powerfully struck by Kohli.

After 12 overs, RCB 81/2 (Kohli 21, ABD 18): No boundaries in that over either, but Tahir had a chance to catch one from Kohli. Too powerfully hit though, that could have been run out at non-striker too and ABD was gone. Eventful over.

After 11 overs, RCB 75/2 (Kohli 17, ABD 16): Good over from Santner and he finishes his spell with 1/23 in four overs. Just three singles in that over.

Just Faf things...

After 10 overs, RCB 72/2 (Kohli 15, ABD 15): CHANCE! A mix-up between Kohli and ABD and the latter would have been out had Jadeja hit the stumps direct. He had all three stumps to aim as well. By his standards, that is a bad miss it must be said. ABD hits a brilliant cut for four to finish that over. Kohli yet to hit a boundary.

Timeout taken. RCB going at 7 RPO.

After 9 overs, RCB 63/2 (Kohli 11, ABD 10): Oh what a beautiful shot. Just a punch through the off-side by ABD as he times one beautifully off Santner’s bowling.

After 8 overs, RCB 55/2 (Kohli 9, ABD 4): Never a dull moment when Imran Tahir is bowling. Bowls a lovely delivery to ABD that hurries his former captain but misses the outside edge. So much energy he brings to proceedings. Good over for CSK.

Correction: Padikkal out for 22.

After 7 overs, RCB 51/2 : WICKET, PADIKKAL’S GONE! Another relay catch at the boundary line and of course Faf du Plessis is involved. He pushes the ball out to Gaikwad just as he lost balance and Padikkal’s innings is over. Santner has the wicket. Padikkal out for 22 and we have ABD-Kohli in green out in the middle. Beware, CSK!

After 6 overs, RCB 46/1 (Padikkal 22, Kohli 4): Padikkal brings out the helicopter, with a lovely whipped flick over square leg off Sam Curran for a four. End of powerplay, and on a used pitch, that is actually a good start for RCB.

After 5 overs, RCB 38/1 (Padikkal 16, Kohli 2) Quite a superb sweep shot by Padikkal over the in-field for a four in what was otherwise a solid over by Santner. Kohli and Dhoni share a lovely moment too in that over. The camaraderie is always great when they go up against each other.

Santner for the first time in IPL 2020...

After 4 overs, RCB 31/1 (Padikkal 11, Kohli 0) - CURRAN STRIKES! Sam Curran, CSK’s brightest spark this season by some distance, strikes in his first over. Aaron Finch’s problems continue as he falls for a 11-ball 15. Down the track, but cannot get any distance. Gaikwad takes the catch.

After 3 overs, RCB 26/0 (Padikkal 9, Finch 13): First six of the day is a superb cut over point by Devdutt Padikkal. Lovely shot, when he saw a hint of width, the left-hander just went after it. Chahar finishes the over with a peach that beats outside edge. Good battle.

After 2 overs, RCB 18/0 (Padikkal 2, Finch 12): An interesting first over from Monu. Not the tallest for a medium pacer, he gets a few to skid through. Strays down the leg side for a couple of wides and then Finch finishes the over with a leg glance for four.

After 1 over, RCB 11/0 (Padikkal 1, Finch 8): Well, that will get Finch going. He has been trying repeatedly to walk to counter swing but with Dhoni up to the stumps, he lofts Chahar twice for back to back fours. First down the ground, then over the leg side.

In some good news this weekend, Kapil Dev discharged from hospital after undergoing angioplasty. Read more here.

Chahar starts off, Padikkal on strike...

Here’s how our daily poll panned out:

3.25 pm: RCB have had many positives this season but the form of Aaron Finch has not been one of them. Can he make an impact today?

Stat: Last 9 matches, average score batting first is 161. It was just more than 180 in the first 10 matches.

3.16 pm: What a day for Monu Kumar Singh. Finally, a game for CSK.

3.14 pm: Just for the record, CSK still have a mathematical chance but Dhoni did not really seem keen about that angle after the previous match as well as at the toss today.

3.12 pm: Confirmation of the playing XIs...

Royal Challengers Bangalore:
Devdutt Padikkal
Aaron Finch
Virat Kohli (C)
AB de Villiers (W)
Gurkeerat Mann Singh
Moeen Ali
Washington Sundar
Chris Morris
Mohammed Siraj
Navdeep Saini
Yuzvendra Chahal 


Chennai Super Kings:

Ruturaj Gaikwad
Faf du Plessis
Ambati Rayudu
Narayan Jagadeesan
MS Dhoni (C) (W)
Ravindra Jadeja
Sam Curran
Mitchell Santner
Deepak Chahar
Imran Tahir
Monu Singh  

— via iplt20.com

3.07 pm: In the previous outing between these two, Virat Kohli smashed a superb 90.

Team changes:

RCB: Moeen Ali replaces Isuru Udana based on the conditions, says Virat Kohli.

CSK: Mitch Santner, Monu Singh replace Josh Hazlewood, Shardul Thakur

TOSS: Virat Kohli wins the toss and opts to bat first in Dubai. Moeen Ali replaces Isuru Udana based on the conditions today, says the RCB skipper.

02.58 pm: The venue is Dubai for this one.

02.55 pm: It’s RCB vs CSK. It’s Virat Kohli vs MS Dhoni. It’s one team looking to go top of the table versus another playing for pride. Who are you backing in this one? Reminder that RCB are in green today, as part of their environmental initiative.

02.50 pm: Hello all and welcome to the live coverage of match No 44 in the Indian Premier League, season 13. It’s been unlucky 13 (so to speak) for Chennai Super Kings but Royal Challengers Bangalore have been on fire. 2020, their year after all? They can go top of the table with a win today against Dhoni’s struggling side.

As of Oct 25 2020

Team Pld Won Lost Net RR Pts
1  Mumbai Indians 10 7 3 +1.448 14
2  Delhi Capitals 11 7 4 +0.434 14
3  Royal Challengers Bangalore 10 7 3 +0.182 14
4  Kolkata Knight Riders 11 6 5 -0.476 12
5  Kings XI Punjab 11 5 6 -0.103 10
6  Sunrisers Hyderabad 11 4 7 +0.029 8
7  Rajasthan Royals 11 4 7 -0.620 8
8  Chennai Super Kings 11 3 8 -0.733 6

Videos and photos in the blog courtesy: iplt20.com