Chennai Super Kings Playing 11 vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru - IPL 2025, Match 8

The 8th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 will be played between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 28. Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium, CSK's home ground, will host the clash. CSK won their first match of the season, which was against their arch-rivals, Mumbai Indians (MI).

On the other hand, RCB also won their first match of the season, played against the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens. Both teams would like to continue their winning momentum, and it would be interesting to see which team will end up winning this much-awaited contest.

It is also unlikely to see any changes in both teams for the upcoming match. They will look to enter the match with their winning combination. However, RCB are expected to play an extra spinner alongside Krunal Pandya, Suyash Sharma and Liam Livingstone as the pitch at Chepauk majorly favours the spinners. On that note, let's take a look at both teams' predicted XI for the upcoming IPL 2025 clash.

CSK Playing 11 vs RCB - Match 6, IPL 2025

Openers - Rachin Ravindra and Rahul Tripathi

CSK would like to continue their opening combination of Rachin Ravindra and Rahul Tripathi in the upcoming clash against RCB as well. Rachin smashed a match-winning half-century in CSK's last encounter, which was against MI, while Tripathi came as an impact player and failed to make any impact on the team. He was dismissed on the score of just two runs.

However, CSK will still stick to this opening combination as the season is too long and they will only make any changes to the team after a player gets their fair number of chances. Tripathi has performed quite well in previous seasons of the cash-rich league, and the same can be expected from him in the ongoing season as well.

Middle Order - Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, and MS Dhoni (WK)

CSK's middle-order looks quite balanced as skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad is a kind of batter who has the ability to switch gears whenever he wants. He was exceptional against MI, playing a fiery knock of 53 runs off just 26 balls and helped his team chase the target. CSK's left-handed middle-order batter, Shivam Dube, failed in CSK's last encounter, scoring just nine runs and will look to improve against RCB.

CSK's newest addition, Deepak Hooda, also failed in his debut match for the franchise, scoring only three runs against MI. However, the right-hander has the ability to play a match-winning knock, and the franchise will be hoping to see one of them. Another brand new addition of CSK, Sam Curran, failed to contribute anything to the team in their first match of the season.

CSK's most experienced players, Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni, are likely to play at the seventh and eighth positions, respectively. Jadeja played a crucial knock of 17 runs against RR while Dhoni remained not out after playing two balls in the match.

Bowlers - Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed and Impact Player: Nathan Ellis

CSK's bowling is one of the most lethal bowling lineups of this season, and it became more lethal when they play at their own backyard at Chepauk. Former RR star, R Ashwin, is back with CSK after a gap of 10 years. Ashwin picked up a wicket for CSK against MI and conceded only 31 runs in his 4-over quota.

CSK's one of the best signings of the season is undoubtedly, Noot Ahmad, who wreaked havoc with his leg-spin against MI, picking up four wickets and helping the team to restrict MI on a low total.

CSK's pace bowling attack is also decent with the duo of Khaleel Ahmed and Nathan Ellis. Khaleed picked up three wickets against MI while Ellis took one wicket. Khaleel was also economical, conceding only 29 runs in his 4-over quota. Ellis leaked some runs, conceding 38 runs in four overs.

RCB Playing 11 vs CSK - Match 6, IPL 2025

Openers - Philip Salt and Virat Kohli

RCB roped in former KKR star Phil Salt who was phenomenal during the 2024 IPL season, where he helped KKR to lift their third IPL title. Salt looked out of form in his recent international outings, however, he was in different touch during RCB's first match of the season, which was against KKR. Salt played a fiery 56-run knock off just 31 balls, featuring nine fours and two sixes. Former RCB skipper Virat Kohli continued his brilliance and started the 2025 IPL season with a match-winning half-century.

Both the batters will look to play with the same approach against CSK as well, but it is not going to be easy as they will have to face some quality spinners like Jadeja, Ashwin and Noor Ahmad.

Middle Order - Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, and Krunal Pandya

After a long time, RCB's middle order is looking quite lethal. Devdutt Padikkal is once again back with RCB. The young left-handed batter has performed quite well for the franchise in the past, and the team will be hoping to have the same performance from him in the ongoing season as well. RCB's brand new skipper, Rajat Patidar, has been phenomenal with the bat for the franchise in the past seasons, and the right-handed batter has started the 18th season of the league with a magnificent knock of 34 runs off just 16 balls, which included five fours and one six.

One of the most talked-about signings of RCB for the 2025 season is Liam Livingstone. The star England all-rounder has the ability to turn the game from any situation single-handedly, both with bat and ball. Just like Salt, Livingstone also looked out of form in his recent matches on the international platform. The right-handed power-hitter got five balls to play against KKR in which he scored 15 runs, featuring two fours and one six. Jitesh Sharma is also another addition to the team who has tremendous finishing abilities. He didn't get a chance to bat in the first match, but will be looking forward to contributing something with the bat to the team.

RCB secured the services of Australia's star batter Tim David during the IPL mega auction. He has played for RCB in 2021, which was also his first-ever IPL season. David displayed some short but effective knocks while he was in the Mumbai Indians (MI) and will be looking to do the same for RCB as well. Another great addition by the management to the team was star all-rounder Krunal Pandya. The Baroda star won the Player of the Match in his debut match for RCB by picking up three wickets and conceding only 29 runs in his 4-over quota.

Bowlers - Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Impact Player: Yash Dayal

RCB have added some new faces to their bowling lineup with players like Rasikh Dar Salam and Suyash Sharma making their way to the team by getting a chance to represent RCB in the first-ever match of the season. The young Rasikh has the ability to bowl at the death over and provide wickets in the middle overs. On the other hand, Suaysh spent most of the previous season on the bench, however, he got to play in RCB's first match of the season and picked up a crucial wicket as well.

RCB's quality pace attack consists of Australia's Josh Hazlewood and India's young star Yash Dayal, who might come to play as an impact player. Hazlewood picked up two wickets and conceded only 22 runs in his 4-over quota. Yash Dayal was also economical as he conceded only 25 runs in three overs, taking a wicket as well.

Chennai Super Kings Playing11 vs RCB

Here's the CSK playing 11 in IPL 2025 ahead of the Southern Derby.

Rachin Ravindra and Rahul Tripathi, Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Shivam Dube, Deepak Hooda, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, and MS Dhoni (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, and Impact Player: Nathan Ellis

Royal Challengers Bangalore Playing 11 vs CSK

Here's the RCB playing 11 in IPL 2025 ahead of the Southern Derby.

Philip Salt and Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, and Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar Salam, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Impact Player: Yash Dayal