Match 8 of the 2025 Indian Premier League season will see five-time champions Chennai Super Kings take on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on March 28.
For the game, here are our preview and predictions.
Both teams have opened their account for the season with a win in their opening fixtures. While CSK beat the Mumbai Indians at home in a tricky affair, RCB won comfortably against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Encounters between CSK and MI are always feisty and competitive, so it’s no surprise that the latest instalment went right down to the wire as well. Put to bat first, MI couldn’t get going but managed a fighting total of 155/9 in their 20 overs. Tilak Verma (31 off 25), Suryakumar Yadav (29 off 26), and Deepak Chahar (28* off 15) ensured their bowlers had something to fight for. For the Super Kings, Noor Ahmad (4/18) and Khaleel Ahmed (3/29) were the pick of the bowlers.
In response, top-order batters Rachin Ravindra (65* off 45) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (53 off 26) gave CSK a superb start, but after Gaikwad’s departure the middle order collapsed, giving MI a slim chance to turn the game around. However, Ravindra, along with the experienced Ravindra Jadeja, ensured CSK chased down the total, though it did go down to the last over.
RCB, meanwhile, comfortably beat KKR in their opener. Put to bat first, KKR started on a blistering note, with captain Ajinkya Rahane (56 off 31) and Sunil Narine (44 off 26) taking them to 107 runs in 10 overs. However, both departed within an over and a batting collapse ensued, with Krunal Pandya turning the game in RCB’s favour with his spin, taking three crucial wickets in the middle. In the end, KKR could only manage 174/8 in their 20 overs.
In response, RCB openers Phil Salt (56 off 31) and Virat Kohli (59* off 36) gave them a great start, scoring 95 runs in 8.2 overs before Salt’s departure. Captain Rajat Patidar then came in and thrashed 34 runs off 16 balls to make the chase far easier; the Royal Challengers cruised to a win in 16.2 overs.
Coming to this game, both teams have the winning momentum, though CSK possess a better spin-bowling attack, and the slow Chepauk wicket at home favours spin, giving them a slight advantage.
Fantasy XI: Rachin Ravindra, Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Rajat Patidar, Krunal Pandya, MS Dhoni (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Josh Hazlewood
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai
Winners Prediction: Chennai Super Kings
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