The Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on the Chennai Super Kings in the 18th match of the Indian Premier League at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday. Bangalore goes into the game with three successive wins to their name, whereas Chennai has won two and lost two so far, including a game that went into the Super Over. 
The biggest talking point in the tournament has been the manner in which the Bangalore side has bowled. Usually unheard of, the side has gone into games with four frontline seam bowlers; Dale Steyn, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar and Jacques Kallis, and all have had a telling contribution to make. The bouncers have tested the batsmen in the last two successive games against Mumbai and Rajasthan, whereas Vinay and Praveen Kumar have swung the ball admirably. 
Kallis, the batsman, has been an epitome of how cricket needs to be played in this format. Almost ridiculed in the first edition of this tournament, he has come back to reap the rewards of some dedicated hard work and is yet to get out in the series so far. That is saying a lot about the batsman, given that he has yet to be dismissed in the tournament so far and has the Orange Cap firmly perched on his head.
The Chennai side, in comparison would be seething. Seething from their previous loss to Punjab when they should have won the game 99 times out of 100. Unfortunately, with Dhoni not in their line-up, they choked in the death overs, and then in the Super Over to go down to their opposition. While one is not sure whether or not Dhoni will play in this game, but one gets the sense that Manpreet Gony could be sitting out of this game due to his form concerns.
With Justin Kemp struggling to get back to his fitness as well, having returned back to the pavilion in the middle of his over, the Chennai side do not look to be in a good shape. A win would go a long distance in getting their confidence back, but one gets the sense that the return of Dhoni would be the best that could happen to them.
Bangalore’s recent run of form and the fact that they are losing finalists from the previous edition of the IPL makes them the favourites at 4/5 (Bet Fred), while Chennai go into the game at 6/5 (William Hill).