The highly awaited clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will set the ground on fire and be the weapon for IPL 2025. This historic enmity between these two fan favorites of the league promises fireworks with RCB’s batting flair matching the spin-forged temperament of CSK.
RCB has made a few tactical changes under Rajat Patidar to buttress his team. Virat Kohli will continue to provide ballast to the batting unit, with an immediate intention to launch into the opposition at the very start.
With new overseas entrants like Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone, the RCB wants to overpower CSK right from the start. The bowling unit, spearheaded by Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, ought to bring their A-game against the strong batting firepower of CSK.
CSK pursues its legacy of IPL domination under the captaincy of Ruturaj Gaikwad. The defending champions comprise an impressive lineup featuring MS Dhoni, Devon Conway, and Ravindra Jadeja. The home game will attract the attention of their spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin, Rachin Ravindra, and Shreyas Gopal as they look to choke RCB’s aggressive batting.
Match Details:
Match: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs. Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2025
Date: Friday, March 28, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM IST
Venue: M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Royal Challengers Bangalore predicted XI.
Batting order:
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt (wk), Rajat Patidar (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Liam Livingstone, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal
Bowling order:
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt (wk), Rajat Patidar (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Liam Livingstone, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Rasikh Dar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal
Impact players:
Mohit Rathee, Abhinandan Singh, Romario Shepherd, Suyash Sharma, Nuwan Thushara
Chennai Super Kings predicted XI.
Batting order:
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Ravindra Jadeja, Rachin Ravindra, Shivam Dube, Sam Curran, Shardul Thakur, Nathan Ellis, Mukesh Choudhary
Bowling order:
Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Ravindra Jadeja, Rachin Ravindra, Shivam Dube, Sam Curran, Noor Ahmad, Matheesha Pathirana
Impact players:
Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda, Anshul Kamboj, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Khaleel Ahmed
Players to watch for
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
- Virat Kohli: The king of IPL, Kohli’s form against spin will be the key at Chepauk.
- Liam Livingstone: An all-rounder who can change the game with bat and ball.
- Josh Hazlewood: Early breakthroughs from him could put CSK on the back foot.
Chennai Super Kings:
- MS Dhoni: His experience and finishing ability still make him one of CSK’s biggest assets.
- Rachin Ravindra: His performance during the middle overs can be the difference.
- Ravindra Jadeja: An important player with both bat and ball, particularly in home conditions.
Dream11 Fantasy Team Picks
Wicketkeepers: MS Dhoni (CSK), Phil Salt (RCB)
Batters: Virat Kohli (RCB), Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK), Devon Conway (CSK), Rajat Patidar (RCB)
All-rounders: Liam Livingstone (RCB) (VC), Ravindra Jadeja (CSK), Rachin Ravindra (CSK)
Bowlers: Josh Hazlewood (RCB), Nathan Ellis (CSK)
Team Compositions: RCB 5-6 CSK | Credits Left: 10
Backups: Tim David (RCB), Krunal Pandya (RCB), Sam Curran (CSK), Matheesha Pathirana (CSK)
Pitch and Conditions
The pitch at Chepauk is traditionally one that assists spinners, and batters have to apply themselves to score big runs. First-innings average runs at this venue are somewhere between 160-170 runs, with the team chasing having some extra advantage because of dew.
Pacers will have some early swing in the first few overs, with spinners Jadeja and Ashwin making some inroads later on. Toss-winning captains may look to bowl first on account of dew in the second innings.
Match Prediction
With the gentle breeze marking the arrival of summer, both teams are full of world-class players; CSK may have a slight edge due to a better understanding of home conditions and an excellent spin attack. On the flip side, if the RCB top order can fire, and Hazlewood can get them early breakthroughs, they can break their Chepauk jinx.
Both teams are eager to win their first match against each other in IPL 2025, making this an electrifying contest. Expect some big-hitting action from both sides as they compete for playoff access!!