IPL 2019: 3 Team battles to watch out for

The upcoming season of the world's biggest T20 festival is set to get underway on March 23 and the schedule for the first two weeks has been announced. The defending champions Chennai Super Kings are set to lock horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first match of IPL 2019.

Over the years, the cash-rich league has produced many intense rivalries which has kept the fans hooked. Here, we take a look at three team battles to watch out for in the forthcoming edition of Indian Premier League.

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#3 Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals

The Mumbai-Delhi rivalry is one of the most intense rivalries in IPL history

One of the most anticipated rivalries, the Mumbai-Delhi tussle has been in existence for a long time not only in sports but in all the fields.

In IPL, the battle between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) has always been a treat to watch for cricket fans. The Delhi franchise is one of the few teams who has given tough competition to Mumbai Indians in IPL history.

MI has a better head to head record against every team except Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad as the number of matches won by MI against these two teams is equal to the number of matches lost.

Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals have faced each other 22 times in IPL till date and both the teams have won 11 matches each.

Last season, fans witnessed two last over thrillers between the two teams and eventually, both the matches were won by Delhi. So Mumbai Indians will be very desperate to take revenge from Delhi Capitals in IPL 2019.

In IPL 2019, one of the two matches between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals will be played on March 24 at Wankhede Stadium and it will also be the first match of the season for both teams. It will be fascinating to watch who will start the season with a win. Fans would be eagerly waiting for the mouth-watering contest.

#2 Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore

MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli

The South Indian derby between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore is one of the most enormous rivalries in IPL. The competition between the present Indian captain Virat Kohli and former Indian captain MS Dhoni makes it even more special.

The two teams have confronted each other in 23 matches, 22 times in IPL and 1 time in CLT20. CSK have the upper hand as they have won 15 matches, while RCB has managed to win just 7 matches 1 match ended with no result.

Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina have been part of 22 out of 23 matches and are also the leading run scorer in CSK-RCB rivalry for their respective teams. Kohli has scored 746 runs against CSK, while Raina has scored 650 runs against RCB.

Out of current roster players, Dwayne Bravo with 10 wickets and Yuzvendra Chahal with 8 wickets are leading wicket-taker for their respective teams from current players in CSK vs RCB matches.

The three-time champions CSK will battle it out with RCB in the season opener on March 23 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. It will be worth watching who will start their campaign with a win.

#1 Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians

CSK and MI both have won IPL title thrice

The rivalry between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians is arguably the most popular and intense rivalry in the history of IPL. CSK have a better head to head record against every franchise except Mumbai Indians. Mumbai have always given tough competition to CSK.

The two most successful teams in IPL, MI and CSK have played against each other in 26 matches, which includes 2 matches in CLT20 as well. Mumbai has won 14 out of 26 matches, while CSK has managed to win 12.

The two teams have faced each other 3 times in the IPL final in 2010, 2013 and 2015. CSK won the IPL 2010 final, while MI won the other two.

In the upcoming edition of IPL, One of the two matches between CSK and MI will be played on April 3 at Wankhede Stadium. It will be interesting to watch who will come out on top after the match.