IPL 2019: 5 RCB players who have never played against Chennai Super Kings

The first match of the Indian Premier League 2019 is the South Indian derby between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings. The two teams have a stiff and fierce fan-built rivalry. This is due to the political tensions between the states they represent.

The matches between RCB and CSK are also significant due to the fact that CSK holds a six-match winning streak against the Bangalore based franchise. RCB is yet to win against CSK since their last victory in 2014.

The huge fan following of their captains Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni makes the match a crowd puller. However, there are some names in the RCB side who are yet to be featured in the South Indian derby.

Undoubtedly they would be hungry to show their game and earn some fame in such a marquee match-up. Let us take a look at five such players who have never represented the Bangalore side in the South Indian derby.

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#5 Shimron Hetmyer

Destructive, left handed and hails from the Carribean! Reminds you of a Legend? Welcome the big-hitting wicket-keeper batsman, Shimron Hetmyer to RCB! #PlayBold #BidForBold #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/tBhbnTiUAK

— Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) December 18, 2018

Shimron Hetmyer, the recent West Indies sensation belongs to RCB for the 2019 IPL. After a huge bidding war, the Bangalore based franchise successfully grasped him. As it is a well-known fact that RCB relies heavily on its top order batsmen ABD and Virat, Hetmyer could be useful down the order. He can solidify the middle order as a number four batsman.

Shimron's exploits against India when the Windies toured the nation in 2018 make him a perfect option to be featured regularly for the side. He is capable of getting big sixes and boundaries for the side and take some pressure off Kohli and de Villiers.

However, Shimron has a long way to go to gain the permanent faith of the management. He has zero IPL experience but still, we can be sure that Hetmyer will be playing the first IPL match of 2019 against Chennai Super Kings.

The Bangalore side had been missing the West Indies flavor in their side since the departure of Chris Gayle. The young West Indies batsman Hetmyer makes his IPL debut this year for RCB. Will the flag bearer of Amazon Warriors recreate the Gayle storm for Bangalore?

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#4 Shivam Dube

His six hitting mode of late lets Shivam Dube make some promises!#12thMan, here's our fast bowling all-rounder saying Hello. #PlayBold #BidForBold pic.twitter.com/ZjHAFs0rWW

— Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) December 20, 2018

Shivam Dube was roped in by Royal Challengers Bangalore at the IPL auctions ahead of the 2019 season. The 25-year-old attracted an amount of ₹5 crores from the Bangalore based franchise after quite a bidding war.

Dube hitting five sixes in the over of Swapnil Singh while representing Mumbai in a Ranji Trophy match is undoubtedly the reason for his hefty IPL price tag. Also, Dube had hit five sixes in an earlier MPL match in the over of IPL veteran Pravin Tambe.

His Mumbai teammate and captain Siddhesh Lad expected him to go at a good price in the IPL 2019 auctions,

"Yes, Shivam is a very talented player and we have seen how long he hits sixes. I'm sure IPL teams are looking after him and he will go at a good price."

The left-handed batsman is also a handy all-rounder. With more than 700 first-class runs and 28 wickets, Dube looks like a promising youngster whom RCB would look to groom for the future. Surely they will give him an opportunity in the first match against CSK.

#3 Akshdeep Nath

Akshdeep Nath during U19 International Quad Series - Day 5

Unlike Shivam, Akshdeep Nath actually knows what it is to be in an IPL game. The 25-year-old already has three years of IPL experience behind him. He had played for two IPL teams including the now-defunct Gujarat Lions and Kings XI Punjab.

However, Akshdeep hasn't had much success in the Indian Premier League so far. This is because of the fact that he received only minimal chances to play. He is a batsman and an occasional wicket-keeper with good leadership potential.

Akshdeep was the vice-captain of India U-19 team that won the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He was the leading run scorer for Uttar Pradesh in 2017/18 Ranji Trophy with 387 runs in five matches. He also topped the run-scoring charts for the same team in 2016/17 Vijay Hazare Trophy with 293 runs in six matches.

With enough chances, Akshdeep can break out into one of the major stars for the RCB side. It looks like he would be regularly featured starting from the very first IPL 2019 match as the determined Bangalore side bought him after quite a bidding war.

#2 Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali

Prominent England all-rounder Moeen Ali got an opportunity to play in the Indian Premier League only in 2018. Royal Challengers Bangalore roped him in at the auctions for ₹1.70 crores. However, Moeen only got limited chances in the playing XI.

He represented RCB for just 5 matches and got 77 runs and 3 wickets. Moeen did not play against CSK in the 2018 edition of IPL. However, there are many chances for him to play his first match against CSK in the tournament opener.

After warming the bench for the majority of the season, the England all-rounder proved his worth by scoring 65 runs in 34 balls with 2 fours and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 191.17 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The skipper Virat Kohli was full of praise for Ali in the post-match presentation. He said:

"Moeen has come in and done very well for us. Tonight his knock was superb and hats off to him for grabbing his opportunity. He is providing us the balance that we require."

RCB retaining Moeen Ali after the season and Virat's opinion about him adding balance to the side makes him a likely candidate to be featured in the series opener against CSK.

#1 Marcus Stoinis

Virat Kohli and Marcus Stoinis

Marcus Stoinis' IPL debut came right in the year where CSK's two-year ban started. Despite playing for 3 years and 19 matches as a Kings XI all-rounder, Stoinis have never played against the most successful IPL franchise.

Everything may change this year for Stoinis as he would be donning the RCB jersey to square off against their arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings in one of the two games. The Australian all-rounder played well in India earlier the year when his national side toured India.

Also, Stoinis was exceptional at the 2018/19 season of Big Bash League. He ended up as the top scorer for Melbourne Stars with 533 runs in 13 innings. He also picked 14 wickets for them in 11 innings.

The Australian all-rounder is a World Cup probable player. He is also part of the Australia squad that tours UAE for an ODI series against Pakistan during the first few games of IPL. However, RCB would be hoping to feature him at least in their home game against CSK.