A CSK fan in RCB territory: Inside Chinnaswamy for the Southern Derby

Experience the Southern Derby through the eyes of a CSK fan in RCB territory during the thrilling IPL 2026 clash.

I feel like Hamza Ali Mazari from Dhurandhar.

Two days before the RCB vs CSK match in Bangalore, I land in the den of the current champions. There is talk of the big clash everywhere I go — hotels, shopping streets and vegetable shops — even as the quest for tickets reaches a feverish high.

Like any good spy, I slowly slip into RCB-land, trying to find clues that will help the men in yellow on the big evening. Overhearing fan strategies and choice of players is a big part of this. The most interesting aspect of any cricket match, especially a big one, is the tonnes of speculation and planning that we fans put into it, fully knowing that it has absolutely zero bearing on what happens on ground.

This is the Southern Derby. This is one of the biggest clashes in the IPL — in terms of hype and fervour. This is RCB taking on the CSK in Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, a battle between an in-form men in red and a relatively-weak men in yellow for sporting glory.

As I board the Bengaluru Metro headed to Cubbon Park station, all eyes are on me.

In a packed coach dominated by about hundred Royal Challengers Bangalore jerseys, I stand out. I’m wearing a bright yellow Chennai Super Kings jersey and cap, somewhat an oddity in the sea of red.