Cricholic
CSK vs RR promises to be a thrilling encounter as Chennai Super Kings take on Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. Since their winning streak at home was recently broken by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, CSK will be eager to bounce back. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals are still searching for their first win in IPL 2025 after back-to-back defeats against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders. Therefore, this match becomes even more crucial for RR as they look to revive their campaign.
CSK vs RR: Pitch & Conditions in Guwahati
Barsapara Cricket Stadium is known for assisting spinners, especially in the first innings. As a result, batters may struggle initially, with stroke play becoming easier only later in the game. However, teams that can build solid partnerships will have a greater advantage. Additionally, due to the expected slow nature of the surface, captains might prefer to chase, especially if dew plays a role.
CSK vs RR: Team Previews
Rajasthan Royals’ Strategy
🛑 Injuries & Availability:
- Sanju Samson might miss wicketkeeping and captaincy duties.
- Other than that, RR have no major injury concerns.
🎯 Tactics & Matchups:
- Jofra Archer and Tushar Deshpande will aim to exploit Rahul Tripathi and Deepak Hooda’s weaknesses against short-pitched deliveries. Since both batters have struggled against bouncers, this could be a key battle.
- Hooda averages just 17.1 against short balls, while Tripathi fares even worse at 15.14. Therefore, Rajasthan’s pacers might use the short-ball ploy effectively.
- Moreover, with the pitch offering turn, Wanindu Hasaranga could play a major role in the middle overs.
🔥 Probable Playing XII:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Sanju Samson
- Riyan Parag (c)
- Nitish Rana
- Dhruv Jurel (wk)
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Shubham Dubey
- Wanindu Hasaranga
- Jofra Archer
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Tushar Deshpande
- Kumar Kartikeya/Sandeep Sharma
CSK vs RR: Chennai Super Kings’ Approach
🛑 Injuries & Availability:
- Ruturaj Gaikwad’s squad has no reported injury concerns.
🎯 Tactics & Matchups:
- R Ashwin has historically troubled Sanju Samson, restricting his scoring and dismissing him multiple times. Consequently, RR may need to rethink their strategy against him.
- However, Nitish Rana has been highly successful against Ashwin, scoring at a strike rate of 186+ without being dismissed in IPL. As a result, CSK’s bowlers might need to adjust their plans for him.
- In addition, Ravindra Jadeja and Noor Ahmad could be key assets for CSK, especially if the pitch favors spinners as expected.
🔥 Probable Playing XII:
- Rachin Ravindra
- Rahul Tripathi
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (c)
- Shivam Dube
- Deepak Hooda/Vijay Shankar
- Sam Curran
- Ravindra Jadeja
- MS Dhoni (wk)
- R Ashwin
- Noor Ahmad
- Khaleel Ahmed
- Matheesha Pathirana
CSK vs RR: Key Stats & Trivia
✅ Chennai Super Kings’ chasing struggles: CSK haven’t successfully chased a 175+ target since IPL 2021. Therefore, if RR manages to post a strong total, it could put pressure on CSK’s batting lineup.
✅ Rajasthan Royals’ poor Guwahati record: RR have played five matches at this venue since 2023 but have managed to win only one. Thus, they will need to improve their performance here.
✅ Ravindra Jadeja’s wicketless run: Surprisingly, Jadeja is yet to pick up a wicket in IPL 2025. Consequently, CSK will be expecting him to step up in this encounter.
✅ Deepak Hooda’s inconsistency: The batter has registered single-digit scores in 13 of his last 23 IPL innings since 2023. As a result, he will be under pressure to deliver a strong performance.
✅ Jofra Archer’s impact in powerplays: Archer has been highly effective with the new ball, often striking early. Hence, CSK’s top order must be cautious while facing him.
CSK vs RR: Match Details
📅 Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM IST
🏟 Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
