Both Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who are elated after winning their respective inaugural games in the Indian Premier League 2025, will prepare to resume their long-running rivalry at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, which serves as the former’s home field. Interestingly, the forthcoming IPL match is scheduled for Friday, March 28. Additionally, this means that CSK will play two straight games at home, while RCB will travel for a second straight game.
In the season’s opening game at home in Kolkata, RCB defeated the reigning champions, KKR, to get off to a great start. Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of KKR, got them off to a great start on the powerplay, despite Sunil Narine’s unexpected slow start. The RCB got the hole they required when both were removed quickly after one another. Only 67 runs were conceded in the final ten overs, and just 29 in the final five, as RCB’s bowling recovery was spearheaded by Krunal Pandya.
Virat Kohli and Phil Salt quickly pursued the target and used a vicious powerplay attack to win the match. Rajat Patidar, the captain of the RCB, and Liam Livingstone added the final touches to a chase that was finished with 22 balls remaining as both openers reached their fifties.
It was more difficult for CSK to defeat MI, their bitter rivals, in Chennai. CSK was the first to bowl and hit the ball right away on a two-paced surface. MI was completely stopped by Noor Ahmad’s four-wicket haul in the middle overs, and Khaleel Ahmed contributed significant strikes during the powerplay. MI had something to bowl at after Deepak Chahar’s smash with the bat in the final overs. Unfazed by an early wicket, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad of the Chennai Super Kings attacked the opposition.
By the time he finished, Chennai appeared to have a good hold on the game. CSK’s pursuit was subsequently derailed by a three-wicket burst from Vignesh Puthur, who was playing his first senior match. After then, it was up to Rachin Ravindra, who persevered through the rain and drove CSK home in the last over.
IPL Records & Stats at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
The Chennai surface seems to be a breath of fresh air at a time when 200 has been breached in six team innings out of 12 in IPL 2025. It is likely to stay slow in order to suit CSK’s spin strength.
| Matches Played | 86 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 47 |
| Matches Won Batting Second | 37 |
| Matches With No Result | 00 |
| Matches Tied | 02 |
| Average First Innings Score | 164 |
| Highest Team Total | 246 |
| Highest Total Successfully Chased | 211 |
Player battles to watch out for in CSK vs RCB, Match 8:
Virat Kohli vs Ravindra Jadeja
The two Under-19 World Cup-winning teammates have had a long battle in the IPL, and by the looks of it, there may not necessarily be a winner here. Slow scoring but almost never getting out against spin is a constant feature of the way Kohli plays, and it shows. Against the southpaw, Kohli has managed 157 runs from 145 balls at a strike rate of just 108.27 while being dismissed thrice at an average of 52.33.
Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar:
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is among the highest wicket-takers in IPL history but has never managed to get the better of the CSK skipper in the tournament. In 48 balls, Gaikwad has made 69 runs against Kumar at a strike rate of 143.75.
India
