IPL 2025 RR vs CSK: Stats favour yellow army, but who will win? Check playing XI, match overview

The 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is heating up as Rajasthan Royals (RR) prepare to take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 11th match of the season.

The high-stakes encounter will take place at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati today (March 30), with the first ball scheduled for 7:30 pm. With both teams looking to gain momentum, this match could prove crucial in shaping their respective campaigns.

Current Form

CSK, the five-time IPL champions, have had a mixed start to the season, winning one match and losing another. They began their campaign with a four-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians but stumbled against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), suffering a 50-run defeat

Questions remain over Ruturaj Gaikwad’s batting position and MS Dhoni’s late arrival at No. 9 in the previous match, which has sparked discussions about CSK’s strategy.

RR, last year’s runners-up, are still in search of their first win of IPL 2025 after consecutive losses to Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Stand-in skipper Riyan Parag, leading in Sanju Samson’s partial absence due to a finger injury, has struggled at No. 3, managing just 4 and 25 runs in his two innings.

The team’s tactical choices, such as Shimron Hetmyer’s batting position and the decision to play a batter short despite the Impact Player rule, have raised concerns.

Head-to-Head Record

Historically, CSK have enjoyed the upper hand in this rivalry, winning 16 out of 29 encounters against RR. However, with RR playing at their adopted home ground in Guwahati, they will be eager to improve their record and register their first win of the season.

Predicted Playing XIs

Rajasthan Royals:

Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag (captain), Nitish Rana, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma

Kumar Kartikeya/Tushar Deshpande (Impact Player).

Chennai Super Kings:

Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Rahul Tripathi/Vijay Shankar, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Anshul Kamboj, Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed

Matheesha Pathirana (Impact Player).

Key Players to Watch

Riyan Parag’s ability to stabilize RR’s batting order will be under scrutiny, especially in Samson’s absence. On the other hand, Rahul Tripathi faces mounting pressure to deliver for CSK after registering two single-digit scores in the tournament so far.

Pitch and Conditions

The Barsapara Cricket Stadium has a reputation for producing high-scoring games, with an average run rate of 8.57. The dry pitch with little grass cover is expected to favor spinners, particularly in the middle overs. Batters can expect good conditions for stroke play, while fast bowlers may find it difficult to generate movement.

Match Prediction

CSK’s experience and head-to-head dominance give them a slight edge, but RR’s hunger for a breakthrough win and their familiarity with conditions in Guwahati could level the playing field.