Chennai Super Kings will host Royal Challengers Bengaluru in match 8 of the Indian Premier League 2025 on Friday, March 28, 2025, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. This highly anticipated match marks the 34th meeting between the two franchises, with the Super Kings holding a significant advantage in their head-to-head record, leading 21-11. CSK has been particularly dominant at home, winning 8 of their last 9 encounters against RCB in Chennai, their sole defeat occurring during the inaugural season of 2008.
CSK kicked off their season with a strong performance, defeating the Mumbai Indians by four wickets last Sunday. In contrast, RCB also started their campaign on a high note, steamrolling the reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets in their season opener at Eden Gardens. Both teams come into this match with confidence, but the stakes are high as they aim to establish a strong foothold early in the tournament.
The match is set to begin at 7:30 PM IST, with the toss scheduled for 7 PM IST. Fans can catch all the action live on the Star Sports network and stream it on the JioHotstar app.
Chennai Super Kings will rely on their captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has shown promise as a leader, alongside veteran MS Dhoni, who continues to play a crucial role as wicketkeeper. The CSK squad also features key players such as Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, and the experienced spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Noor Ahmad, both of whom are expected to exploit the slow pitch conditions in Chennai.
On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will look to their captain Rajat Patidar and star player Virat Kohli to guide them through this challenging matchup. Kohli, the only current RCB player who was part of the team during their historic win at Chepauk in 2008, will be eager to lead his side to break the 17-year jinx against CSK at this venue. RCB's batting lineup also includes promising talents like Philip Salt and Liam Livingstone, who will need to fire on all cylinders to challenge CSK's formidable spin attack.
The pitch at MA Chidambaram Stadium is known for its slow nature, which could favor spinners. In their previous match, CSK effectively utilized their spin options against Mumbai Indians, and they will likely employ the same strategy against RCB. The presence of Jadeja, Ashwin, and Ahmad gives CSK a significant edge, especially on a track that has historically supported slow bowlers.
As the rivalry between CSK and RCB intensifies, fans can expect a thrilling encounter. The passionate fan bases of both teams add an electric atmosphere to the match, reminiscent of a derby. Last year, RCB knocked CSK out of the playoffs, adding another layer of intrigue to this encounter.
Chennai's weather forecast indicates a dry and warm evening, with temperatures expected to hover just above 30 degrees Celsius and partly cloudy skies. This pleasant weather should allow for a full match without interruptions, much to the delight of the fans.
In terms of team composition, CSK's squad includes Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Sam Curran, Ravichandran Ashwin, Matheesha Pathirana, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Nathan Ellis, Mukesh Choudhary, Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, Khaleel Ahmed, Jamie Overton, Shaik Rasheed, Anshul Kamboj, Shreyas Gopal, Noor Ahmad, Gurjapneet Singh, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Andre Siddarth C, and Vansh Bedi.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's lineup features Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Liam Livingstone, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Abhinandan Singh, Manoj Bhandage, Romario Shepherd, Swapnil Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Nuwan Thushara, Jacob Bethell, Mohit Rathee, and Swastik Chikara.
As the match approaches, all eyes will be on the performances of both teams, particularly the spin bowlers from CSK and the batting prowess of RCB. The outcome of this match could set the tone for the rest of the season, making every ball count in this high-stakes encounter.
Fans are eagerly anticipating this clash, hoping for a thrilling display of cricket that lives up to the storied rivalry between these two franchises. With both teams in good form, the stage is set for an exciting showdown at Chepauk.
