In their respective second games of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), the five-time champion Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will square off against one another. On Friday, March 28, the match will take place at MA Chidambaram Stadium.
When these two teams previously fought one another, it was a game of life or death for both. The losing team’s campaign would have ended with that game, while the winner would have advanced to the playoffs.
With all on the line, RCB overcame CSK to secure a playoff berth and advance as the fourth team in the knockout stages. As a result, under their new captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, the latter concluded the 2024 Indian Premier League season in fifth place on the points table.
During this tournament both teams managed to achieve victory over their competitors in round one. During the contest RCB overcame the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and CSK won against the reigning champions from the Mumbai Indians (MI).
Conflicts between CSK and RCB have historically produced intense battles which will repeat themselves in this upcoming contest. The following three player confrontations will be significant highlights during the game:
1. Noor Ahmad vs Rajat Patidar
Rajat Patidar, the captain of the RCB, has just faced one delivery from CSK spinner Noor Ahmad in their one-match T20 encounter. Even though they haven’t faced off much in the past, there are a lot of reasons to watch this fight.
Before the match, Noor is playing at his best. In a fierce match at Chepauk against their bitter rivals MI, he took four wickets in CSK’s campaign opener. Patidar is also playing well; in his most recent game, he scored 34 (16), including five fours and a maximum, at a strike rate of 212.50.
It will be interesting to watch what tactics the Afghan spinner comes up with this time around, because the team’s next game is set to take place at the same location and he is aware of the conditions available.
Like in the last game, Rajat Patidar may enter the game at No. 4 and bat during the powerplay or the first ten overs. There is a good likelihood that the two players will meet swords because Noor takes possession of the ball shortly after the powerplay concludes.
2. Khaleel Ahmad vs Virat Kohli
The first match of the tournament featured former RCB captain Virat Kohli at the top of the batting order against KKR while he scored fifty-nine runs from thirty-six balls with four boundaries and three overbound shots to guide his team to victory.
The opening pair of the match saw Khaleel Ahmed deliver two important wickets through his first two overs as MI’s first batter during the powerplay period.
Two incredible cricketers. The men who rewrote the chasing manual! 🏏📜
Here’s what @msdhoni has to say about @imVkohli’s game and the special bond they share. ❤🤝💛
As these two legends face off, who will win this chapter of their epic battle?
Watch ‘𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐒 𝐃𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐈… pic.twitter.com/G07SbIyhgs
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 27, 2025In T20 cricket, Kohli has already faced 20 deliveries from Ahmed’s bowling and amassed 34 runs at a strike rate of 170, including three fours and a few sixes. The current CSK pacer has already removed one RCB hitter in these four innings.
It will be an exciting match to witness, as both players will open for their teams, one with the bat and the other with the ball.
3. Yash Dayal vs Ruturaj Gaikwad
The team’s first match against MI featured a great knock by CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. After CSK lost their opener Rahul Tripathi early in the second over, the Maharashtra batsman walked out to bat at No. 3, scoring 53 off 26.
In the tournament’s opening match, Yash Dayal, playing for RCB against KKR, recorded numbers of 1/25 throughout his three-over stint. At a stage when the KKR hitters had gained momentum and were hitting the bowlers everywhere, he removed Angkrish Raghuvanshi.
Rutu is Game!🌟#WhistlePodu #Yellove🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/tfoTTCN6uH
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) March 27, 2025Four innings have been played between the two players. In the 32 balls he has faced against Dayal, Ruturaj has amassed 52 runs at a strike rate of 162.50. The current RCB pacer has removed the CSK batsman twice in these innings. Their matchup will be interesting to watch because both players are probably going to use the powerplay.
