IPL 2019: CSK vs RCB - 3 Milestones that can be reached in the first game

Chennai Super Kings will welcome the Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chepauk in the opening game of the Indian Premier League. These two teams don't have any dearth of firepower within their ranks. The two powerhouses have the ability to light up the opening match of cricket's most popular league.

CSK are the joint most successful team in the history of the competition as they have lifted the trophy three times. The defending champions will be hoping to start this season on a perfect note by winning in front of their home crowd. On the other hand, RCB has never won the tournament, and Virat Kohli's men would want to improve this record this season.

RCB and CSK have some of the best players in the world. It is natural that some records can be broken when two of the most popular franchises in cricket face each other. Let us look at some of the records in the first match.

#1 Raina needs 15 runs for 5000 IPL runs

Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina is widely renowned as Mr.IPL because of his incredible record in the tournament. The CSK star has done well in international cricket, but he raises his game even higher in the IPL. The left-hander is one of the most consistent batsmen in the history of the competition as he rarely has a bad season.

The Uttar Pradesh batsman can become the first batsman to score 5000 runs in the IPL if he scores 15 runs in the first match of the tournament. He has scored 35 half centuries and one century in his exceptional IPL career, helping his team win the tournament three times.

While his record is impressive, the fact that he has scored those runs at a strike rate of 138 makes his record look even better. Raina might not get the chance to become the first batsman to score 5000 runs if RCB bats first and Virat Kohli reaches the milestone before him.

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#2 Kohli need 42 runs for 5000 IPL runs

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of this generation. The Indian captain has been consistent in all formats of the game in the last few years. He has carried this form in the IPL too, as he has been brilliant for RCB.

As mentioned previously, the right-handed batsman can become the first batsman to score 5000 runs in IPL history. Even if doesn't become the first to score 5000 runs overall, he will surely become the first to do so for a single franchise.

While he has never lifted the IPL trophy, it does not mean that he has been off-color in the tournament. He has an incredible record in the league, as he has scored 34 half centuries and four centuries in his IPL career. RCB would need more of the same from their captain if they want to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.

#3 AB de Villiers needs 47 runs to score 4000 runs

AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers is one of the most popular cricketers in the world. He has a huge fan following around the world including India, where fans chant his name even when he plays against India. Mr.360 announced his retirement from International cricket last year, which allowed him to focus more on T20 leagues.

AB de Villiers has a great record in IPL, where he has mostly batted in the middle order. It is crazy to think that he is among the top-scorers in a list which is dominated by those who open the innings to bat at no.3. The South African has managed to do so, because of his exceptional strike rate of more than 150.

He can become the second overseas batsman in IPL history to score than 4000 runs after David Warner of Australia. He has scored 28 half-centuries and three centuries in his incredible IPL career but has never won IPL.