CSK vs RCB: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will kick-start their title defence on March 22 (Friday) as they play against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the tournament opener at Chepauk Stadium in Chennai.

CSK are one of the most successful teams in the tournament with five IPL titles. They qualified for the playoffs 14 times out of their 16 participating campaigns, the most by a team in IPL history.

MS Dhoni and Co. were crowned the champions of the IPL 2023 edition by beating Gujarat Titans in the final. On the other side of the coin, RCB are yet to get their hands on the trophy in all these 16 seasons.

They reached the finals 3 times but lost all of them. The fans are looking forward to the riveting southern derby, which is just a day away from going all guns blazing. Let's now take a look at the four bowlers who can take the most wickets in the first match.

1. Deepak Chahar: Deepak Chahar has been one of the potent bowlers for CSK, especially in the powerplay overs. His biggest weapon is his potential to swing the ball both ways, which has often paid the way for early dismissals. By getting rid of key batters in the powerplay overs, it makes the job much easier for MS Dhoni to derail the opposition's strategy, setting the tone for the rest of the innings. Overall, he has taken 72 wickets in 73 games at an economy of 7.92 including 2 four-wicket hauls.

2. Mohammed Siraj: It is no secret that Mohammed Siraj has shown remarkable growth and development as a bowler since joining the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise. Apart from generating pace, he has perfected the art of other bowling variations including slower ball, yorker, and bouncer, making him unpredictable. Having been a part of the IPL since 2017, he has played 79 matches so far, taking 78 wickets at an economy of 8.54 including 2 four-wicket hauls.

3. Ravindra Jadeja: Ravindra Jadeja has posed all sorts of threats to RCB's batting unit over the years. Apart from being economical, he has the knack for taking key wickets, courtesy of his ability to maintain apt bowling variations, making it tough for the batters to score off him. He has taken 26 wickets against RCB, the third-most by a bowler in IPL history and will be looking to weave the magic with the ball. Having played 226 games in the IPL since 2008, he has taken 152 wickets including 3 four-wicket hauls and a fifer.

4. Karn Sharma: Karn Sharma is known for his potential to contain runs and pick up crucial wickets for the team. He is expected to extract positives from the Chepauk pitch, which is conducive to spinners. His potential to control these variations such as the googly, makes it tough for batsmen to predict and play against him. Overall, he has taken 69 wickets in 75 appearances at an economy of 8.14 including 2 four-wicket hauls.