CSK vs RCB: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) could not have asked for a tougher start to IPL 2025 than away games back-to-back against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). RCB faced a challenge in KKR, the defending champions, but an even greater challenge lies ahead against CSK at Chepauk. Batting on the slow, turning tracks of Chennai, RCB has traditionally been denied: just once have they managed a win in nine attempts at the grounds.
RCB’s top eight in their IPL 2025 opener featured only one batter, captain Rajat Patidar, showing a better strike rate against spin than pace. Not that impressed against Salt and Sharma, but there is just the right amount of balance against CSK’s potent spin battery of Ashwin, Jadeja, and Noor. However, this RCB line-up has been made for the batting-friendly surfaces, particularly in their seven home games in Bengaluru.
CSK Holding An Edge On All Key Matchups
On the bowling end, RCB lacks experience in spin with only a left-arm spinner, a rookie leg-spinner, and part-time off-spin to offer. While Krunal Pandya would do well in containing the lefties, he faces stiff competition being pitched against four southpaws in the first seven of CSK’s batting order. CSK batted poorly in the very first game against Mumbai Indians and had some real difficulty in finishing the chase for a paltry 155. RCB could find this to be the best time to hit Chepauk, with the pitches being still a tad fresh early in the season.
Match Details
- Match: Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Match 8, IPL 2025
- Date & Time: March 28, 19:30 IST
- Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Pitch & Conditions
The Chepauk surface in the season opener presented a good balance between bat and ball, with spinners doing the duty for 25 out of 40 overs-and 14 in the second innings. While assistance for spinners remains, chasing is preferred on this ground-though seven out of the previous 10 games, including four out of the last five, have been won by the side batting second.
Records Head-To-Head
- Overall- CSK 21 – 11 RCB
- Last 5 Matches- CSK lead 3-2
- At Chepauk- CSK have not lost at home to RCB since 2008
Team News & Strategy
Chennai Super Kings
Injury & Availability:
Matheesha Pathirana was not available for the squad against Mumbai Indians, and while coach Stephen Fleming said he was “progressing well,” his participation is still in doubt.
Tactics & Matchups:
Our best spin hitter from RCB, Rajat Patidar, has this engagement versus Ashwin, who has dismissed him two times in 25 balls and has conceded at under a run a ball.
Probable Playing XII:
Rahul Tripathi, Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, MS Dhoni (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Nathan Ellis, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Injury & Availability:
Missed the opener of the season due to an unspecified injury, but has been bowling in practice. His availability will come down to a late call.
Tactics & Matchups:
Shivam Dube goes against the trend with a fabulous 234 runs at an SR of 158.11. While RCB’s short-ball tactics against him last season had mixed success, the ball-and-bat combination did work, restricting him at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Probable Playing XII:
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma
Key Stats & Facts
- Virat Kohli sweeps at least once every five ball against the spinners from KKR.
- RCB have not lost to CSK while defending totals in the last four (since 2019).
- While average and scoring rate for openers would be at its low in IPL 2024, the new partner pair of Rahul Tripathi and Rachin Ravindra could add up poorly in their debut against MI.
What They Said
“His game against spin has always been very good. In the last 12 months, he’s become significantly bigger. His effort against RCB last year was class, and he’s been in fine form for New Zealand as well.” – CSK Coach Stephen Fleming on Rachin Ravindra.
“Right now, he is batting as well as he ever has. The hunger he shows, even working on a new shot today, speaks volumes about his mindset.” – RCB’s Dinesh Karthik on Virat Kohli.
So both going hard and fast for a beginning to the best season promises be met at Chepauk with a contest between bats and balls. source cricbuzz
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