Five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings will face 2008 title-winners Rajasthan Royals in a dead rubber encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Tuesday. With both teams already out of playoff contention, pride is all that remains at stake in this penultimate fixture for CSK and season finale for RR.
Chennai Super Kings, having endured a tough campaign with just three wins from 12 matches, will look to finish their season on a high with back-to-back wins. Despite the disappointing results, CSK have found some positives in the emergence of young talents like Ayush Mhatre and Dewald Brevis, who’ve impressed in limited opportunities.
Rajasthan Royals, led by Sanju Samson, are aiming to end their season with a win after a demoralising loss to Punjab Kings. With fan expectations still high, the Royals will be keen to bow out with dignity and repeat their earlier-season win over CSK.
CSK vs RR: Pitch and conditions at Arun Jaitley Stadium
The pitch in Delhi is expected to play slow, with dry patches and a touch of grass likely to aid spin as the match progresses. Historically, this surface has supported batters early on, reflected in the average first-innings score of 216 across the last 10 matches at the venue. Dew could be a decisive factor later in the evening, pushing the toss-winning captain to opt for bowling first.
In the last match at this ground between Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans, batters thrived while bowlers struggled to find control—suggesting that early overs could be run-heavy.
CSK vs RR: Weather forecast
No rain is expected for the match in Delhi. Temperatures are forecasted to range between 31°C and 41°C, with clear skies throughout the evening.
Head-to-Head record
CSK and RR have locked horns 30 times in the IPL, with Chennai holding a narrow edge—16 wins to Rajasthan’s 14.
CSK vs RR: What to expect?
While the surface may aid spinners, the Kotla has shown itself to be a strong batting venue, especially early on. Expect teams to go hard in the powerplay, while bowlers—especially spinners—come into play in the middle overs. With nothing to lose, both sides might give a few young players a final run before the season ends.
CSK vs RR: Probable XIs
Chennai Super Kings (CSK):
Ayush Mhatre, Urvil Patel, Devon Conway, Ravindra Jadeja, Dewald Brevis, MS Dhoni (c), Ravichandran Ashwin, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana.
Rajasthan Royals (RR):
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Sanju Samson (c), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kwena Maphaka, Tushar Deshpande, Akash Madhwal, Fazalhaq Farooqi.