IPL 2025: Chennai Super Kings Look to Dent RCB’s Playoff Push

Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings are set to lock horns once again in the reverse fixture at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL 2025 on Saturday. The contest between these two sides always attracts massive interest among cricket lovers. However, due to the current standing of CSK at the points table, the contest doesn't excite that much. For Chennai Super Kings, the game holds little significance as they are already knocked out of the Indian Premier League 2025. Batting coach Michael Hussey said,

"We're certainly not going to panic and throw everything out just because it hasn't gone well this year," 

The team understands that things didn’t go as planned but will continue to believe in the ability of their players. That being said, there are some concerns Chennai Super Kings would look to address. For the next four games, they would be trying to find the best combination for next year. They have found two quality youngsters at the top - Ayush Mhatre and Saik Rasheed and the duo should open tomorrow against RCB. Sam Curran’s brilliant knock yesterday should have given him and the team a lot of confidence. It will be interesting to see how he will play in the remaining four games of the season. 

Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube haven’t met their standards this season. Jadeja has only picked seven wickets in 10 games this season, while Dube has scored 248 runs in 10 games at a strike rate of 132 with just one half-century to his name.  

Following their last game against Punjab, MS Dhoni heaped praise on Dewald Brevis, saying that he could be a great asset to CSK. The South African has certainly shown his class and will be a player to watch out for in the encounter. MS Dhoni might not be in the best of touches himself but he has sensational numbers at M Chinnaswamy stadium. Team management has given Deepak Hooda a longer rope but he hasn’t been able to make an impact. He could be replaced with Vansh Bedi in the playing XI for the next game against RCB. As far as the bowling is concerned, CSK should go in with the same attack. 

On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore would be desperate for a win as two more points will confirm their berth for the playoffs. RCB are in outstanding form and also beat CSK, earlier, this season in their den. Phil Salt missed RCB's last game against Delhi Capitals due to fever. There is no official confirmation of his availability as yet. Devdutt Padikkal’s resurgence has come as a big positive for them, while Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma bolster the batting further. 

Krunal Pandya has made an invaluable contribution to RCB’s success this season. He played a brilliant knock of 73 off 47 balls in a tense game against DC and has picked 13 wickets with the ball, overall, in 10 games. Josh Hazlewood has been their go-to bowler, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar has complimented him brilliantly. The last time RCB played against CSK, Josh Hazlewood returned with outstanding bowling figures of 3 for 21 in four overs. 

Hazlewood currently leads the wickets chart with 18 scalps in 10 games. 

Here’s a look at the predicted playing XIs of both teams: 

Chennai Super Kings: 

Shaik Rasheed, Ayush Mhatre, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda/ Vansh Bedi, MS Dhoni (c&wk), Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 

Phil Salt/Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma