Since today’s date is 28th March 2025, you’re asking for the 8th IPL 2025 match: CSK v RCB tonight at 7:30 PM IST in Chennai. Given below is the preview in this context of high-drama Southern Derby:
This clash is between two IPL titans with each other in the MA Chidambaram Stadium, popularly referred to as Chepauk, wherein CSK is invincible. Historically, CSK is up 21-11 in head-to-head contention 8-1 in Chennai against RCB, RCB’s sole victory in Chennai happening in 2008. There is a intense rivalry, and with both sets of teams enjoying such ardent fan bases, and with personalities like MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, although their current roles now have been interchanged—Dhoni the finisher presently and Kohli the batting core of RCB.
CSK enters this game in high spirits, having won their opening match against Mumbai Indians. Their spin attack of Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, and Ravindra Jadeja can potentially take advantage of the slow, turning Chepauk surface that favors the first innings. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra are in good nick, and Shivam Dube’s hitting power may prove to be more than a match for RCB bowling. RCB, having already beaten defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, will bank on the experience of Kohli, Phil Salt’s aggression, and Josh Hazlewood’s speed. But their spin batting against the likes of Rajat Patidar and Liam Livingstone could be a weaker link against the bowling of CSK.
The Chepauk track has to provide some flatness in the early part of the season, but it mostly does slow down, helping the spinners during the latter part of the match. Toss may very well prove to be a deciding factor; batting first has proved beneficial in this ground overall. RCB’s bowling, spearheaded by Krunal Pandya and Hazlewood, has to deal with CSK’s deep batting lineup, while their batsmen have to decipher 12 potential overs of spin.
Expect a thriller of a match with CSK gaining an edge due to home ground and spin supremacy, but RCB’s marquee players can make it a blockbuster if they get into full flow. The crowd’s excitement will provide the drama—hisses against CSK, cheers for Kohli. Whose bragging rights will they seize tonight? Too close to call till the first ball!
Match Between : Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Key Players:
Batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK | Shivam Dube, CSK | Virat Kohli, RCB | Rajat Patidar, RCB
Bowlers: Matheesha Pathirana, CSK | Noor Ahmad, CSK | Yash Dayal, RCB | Swapnil Singh, RCB
| Chennai Super Kings | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad (c) Batter | Rajat Patidar (c) Top order Batter | |
| C Andre Siddarth Batter | Abhinandan Singh Bowler | |
| Ravichandran Ashwin Bowling Allrounder | Jacob Bethell Batting Allrounder | |
| Vansh Bedi † Wicketkeeper Batter | Manoj Bhandage Allrounder | |
| Devon Conway † Wicketkeeper Batter | Swastik Chikara Batter | |
| Sam Curran Allrounder | Tim David Middle order Batter | |
| MS Dhoni † Wicketkeeper Batter | Josh Hazlewood Bowler | |
| Shivam Dube Allrounder | Virat Kohli Top order Batter | |
| Shivam Dube Allrounder | Bhuvneshwar Kumar Bowler | |
| Ramakrishna Ghosh Bowling Allrounde | Liam Livingstone Batting Allrounder | |
| Shreyas Gopal Allrounder | Mohit Rathee Allrounder | |
| Gurjapneet Singh Bowler | Lungi Ngidi Bowler | |
| Deepak Hooda Allrounder | Devdutt Padikkal Top order Batter | |
| Ravindra Jadeja Allrounder | Krunal Pandya Allrounder | |
| Anshul Kamboj Allrounder | Rasikh Salam Bowler | |
| Mukesh Choudhary Bowler | Phil Salt † Wicketkeeper Batter | |
| Kamlesh Nagarkoti Bowler | Jitesh Sharma † Wicketkeeper Batter | |
| Noor Ahmad Bowler | Romario Shepherd Bowling Allrounder | |
| Jamie Overton Bowling Allrounder | Suyash Sharma Bowler | |
| Matheesha Pathirana Bowler | Swapnil Singh Bowler | |
| Shaik Rasheed Batter | Nuwan Thushara Bowler | |
| Rachin Ravindra Batting Allrounder | Yash Dayal Bowler | |
| Vijay Shankar Allrounder | ||
| Rahul Tripathi Top order Batter |
Match Details
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai
Series: Indian Premier League
Season: 2025
Hours of play (local time): 19.30 start, First Session 19.30-21.00, Interval 21.00-21.20, Second Session 21.20-22.50
Match days: 28 March 2025 – night (20-over match)
Umpires
India: Nitin Menon
India: Saiyed Khalid
TV Umpire
India: KN Ananthapadmanabhan
Reserve Umpire
India: Bhavesh Patel
Match Referee
India: Javagal Srinath