Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin shares his thoughts ahead of the much-anticipated IPL 2026 clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings. Acknowledging RCB’s strong start to the season, Ashwin also admitted that his heart still lies with his former franchise, CSK.
Despite the Chennai-based side struggling without their former captain MS Dhoni, who is sidelined with a calf strain, Ashwin’s selection reflects both nostalgia and an insight into the team dynamic.
“I would never call them overwhelming favourites. My heart always beats yellow a bit. I’m not ashamed of that. In this game my heart says CSK but my brain says RCB,” Ashwin said. “What can I say? They had CSK against RR for 127 in the first match. It was overcast, the pitch was under cover and so on and you went for that combination. It was an aberration.”
Ashwin’s remarks reflect the wider challenges facing CSK this season. The absence of their veteran leadership along with experimental team combinations has upset their usual balance, making it difficult for the franchise to find consistency in their opening games.
“All this happens in T20 cricket. And then in the next game only two overseas players were fielded, Jamie Overton and Matt Short were replaced by Rahul Chahar and Prashant Veer. How many changes do you make after two back-to-back losses?” Ashwin asked.
RCB V CSK: ASHWIN WEIGHS IN IPL CLASH
RCB are not without worries either, despite their strong start. This franchise is facing a bowling crisis, with Josh Hazlewood recovering from injuryNuwan Thushara awaiting No Objection Certificate from Sri Lanka Cricket and Yash Dayal sidelined due to personal reasons.
CSK will be hoping to stabilize their line-up and find momentum in the upcoming encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, while RCB look to capitalize on their early season form despite their depleted bowling options.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Published on:
05 Apr 2026 14:01 IST
