The rivalry between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) took an unexpected turn and became the talk of the town, especially after their last clash in the IPL 2024. The CSK vs RCB match was a high-stakes one and emotions were running high among the Bengaluru players on May 18, 2024.
From the fierce wicket celebrations by RCB players to MS Dhoni’s alleged refusal to shake hands with Bengaluru players, it was a great treat for fans to watch the IPL 2024, which was won by Faf du Plessis and his team by 27 runs to qualify for the playoffs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
RCB-CSK rivalry intensifies after surprising IPL 2024 clash
Recently, former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra shared his views on the rivalry between CSK and RCB in the IPL with a scathing statement, which certainly wouldn’t go down well with Kohli and Bengaluru fans. The cricket pundit said that CSK has consistently dominated RCB over the years, which made him wonder if this can really be called a rivalry.
However, the IPL 2024 encounter between the two teams may have raised new hopes for RCB fans as the franchise pulled off one of the most unexpected turnarounds in IPL history, leaving cricket fans stunned. It looked like CSK had the upper hand and at one point, the match seemed all but over for the yellow brigade.
But RCB turned things around, dealing a huge blow to CSK and shaking up the IPL landscape. It was a resounding win for a team that has long been in the shadow of its southern rival. This win may not be enough to say that the rivalry is even, but it certainly adds fuel to the fire, according to the well-known commentator.
A real rivalry arises when the results are close or equal: Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra said on the 2 Sloggers podcast on YouTube: “A rivalry really develops when the scores are close or even. Unfortunately, the truth so far has been that the matches between CSK and RCB have been very one-sided. This time, of course, CSK lost an important match and RCB pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in IPL history.
“The ball was spinning a lot more than expected and at one point it looked like the match was slipping away from us. But then the brilliant thing happened – RCB gave CSK a hard blow. So yes, there is a rivalry, there is a middle ground, but for this rivalry to become real, RCB needs to win a lot more matches against CSK.”
The big question now revolves around Bengaluru’s leadership as they prepare for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. Virat Kohli had stepped down from the role in 2021 but many fans would love to see the former Indian captain make a comeback as captain. However, Chopra said that it seems highly unlikely as he is firmly set on focusing solely on his batting.
Will Virat Kohli return or is there a new captain on the horizon for RCB?
He said RCB might have no option but to look for a new leader to guide the team forward if they remove the current captain, Faf du Plessis. With the mega IPL 2025 auction on the horizon, the RCB management will have to make some tough decisions. Should they invest in Faf for the next few years or look for a fresh face, possibly even from outside India, to take the reins of captaincy?
Chopra concluded by saying, “As for whether Virat Kohli will captain RCB again, I have some doubts. Since he has already made up his mind, it is highly unlikely that he will don the captain’s hat again. RCB might have to find a new captain. Faf du Plessis might not be available for the next season.
The question is whether the team will invest in Faf for the next three years. He is a good captain and a great option, but with the mega auction coming up, they may have to look for someone outside India if they want to make changes in the leadership.”