After undergoing knee surgery Dhoni is set back to action after one year from the previous IPL season. CSK’s designated spin-hitter Shivam Dube is also fit after missing the Ranji Trophy knockouts with injury. However, they will be without their death-overs specialist, the Sri Lankan slinger Matheesha Pathirana, who will miss the initial stages of IPL 2024 with a hamstring injury.
For RCB, Virat Kohli will also return to competitive cricket after a two-month break. He has played only two T20 games – against Afghanistan in January – since the previous IPL and this season will act as his runway to the 2024 T20 World Cup in June. Kohli displayed an uncharacteristically aggressive approach early in those two innings against Afghanistan; will he bat the same way for RCB.
Match details
(CSK) vs (RCB)
Chennai (Chepauk), 20:00 IST (1430 GMT)