It’s always an incredible game to be a part of: Faf du Plessis ahead of the iconic RCB vs CSK clash at the Chinnaswamy Stadium

The Chinnaswamy Stadium is all set to host one of IPL’s biggest rivalries on Monday evening, as the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will take on hosts Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 24th match of the IPL 2023 season. 

An RCB-CSK match is nothing short of a celebration across both fan groups, and today’s clash comes coated with an extra layer of anticipation, with IPL legends Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni set to feature in Bengaluru in the same match after a long wait. 

RCB come into today’s mega clash on the back of a morale-boosting win against the Delhi Capitals and with a sold-out capacity crowd eager to see their home team put their best foot forward, there’s a lot of expectation from Faf du Plessis’ men.

As for CSK, they put up a solid fight in a chase against the Rajasthan Royals spearheaded by Dhoni but eventually fell 3 runs short of the finishing line. Although CSK have had the wood over RCB in previous encounters, the latter house some crucial momentum on their side which makes for a cracking encounter. 

RCB skipper du Plessis, who is set to lead the side against familiar foes in CSK colours, spoke on how exciting it is to be a part of the big contest, on Game Day. He said, “The game’s already sold out, it’s always an incredible game to be a part of. Obviously, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are the two greats of Indian cricket so that comes with a lot of fans and an amazing atmosphere, so it will be great to see everyone again and compete in what should be an unbelievable atmosphere.”

Seamer Mohammed Siraj, who has been a vital cog for RCB so far said, “CSK and RCB are the two teams who have the most fans in the IPL. A lot of people wait for this match so I’m very happy and I’m looking forward to the game.” 

Fielding coach Malolan Rangarajan also commented on why he reckons much of the match result could hinge on how the two teams field on the day. He said, “I think what is going to set the two teams apart on that day is going to be the fielding. We have a young and vibrant team, so do they, they have a couple of good youngsters there but I think it’s going to be the fielding that makes the difference on the day, at least I hope so.