Can IPL 2025: CSK Continue Rebuilding While RR Ends on a High?

New Delhi, May 19 (NationPress) Chennai Super Kings, the five-time champions, are set to further their rebuilding process, while Rajasthan Royals aim to conclude their campaign with a strong performance when these two teams meet in an IPL 2025 match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium this Tuesday.

With the Delhi Capitals wrapping up their home games, the capital will host its inaugural neutral match of this season as per the revisited tournament schedule. For CSK, this season has largely been forgettable, with various facets of their performance collapsing dramatically.

Amidst their ongoing rebuilding efforts, CSK has discovered promising players who could secure the team’s future—most notably, 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre, who has emerged as a remarkable batter, showcasing proactive intent and filling the gap in their power-play batting, which has seen the team record the lowest run rate of 8.3 among all ten teams.

Considering the struggling RR bowling attack, Mhatre, Shaik Rasheed, Urvil Patel, and Dewald Brevis are well-positioned to score heavily, especially after the recent run-fest. Conversely, RR finds themselves on the brink of a disappointing end to IPL 2025 as they prepare for their final match. It’s been a challenging season for the Sanju Samson-led squad, who have been out of form.

Much like CSK’s gamble on experienced players that didn’t pay off, RR’s strategies during last year’s mega auctions raised eyebrows. They parted ways with Jos Buttler and placed their batting hopes on Indian players, and while they secured Jofra Archer, their bowling has lacked depth, particularly without a genuine all-rounder and a standout Indian bowler.

In the batting department, besides young talents Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal, RR has struggled. This is highlighted by their inability to win eight out of nine matches while chasing, including a narrow Super Over loss to DC and a 10-run defeat against the Punjab Kings on Sunday.

The series of losses from winnable scenarios and the middle order’s failure to finish matches effectively encapsulates RR’s unfortunate journey in this tournament. Fans hope they can leave a positive mark against a CSK team that is investing in its future through its youth.

When: Tuesday, May 20 at 7:30 PM IST

Where: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi

Where to watch: Star Sports Network (TV) and JioHotstar (live streaming)

Squads

Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ayush Mhatre, Devon Conway, Khaleel Ahmed, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Shaik Rasheed, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Deepak Hooda, Dewald Brevis, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Urvil Patel, and Andre Siddarth.

Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (c & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Yudhvir Singh, Kunal Singh Rathore (wk), Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), Akash Madhwal, Ashok Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kumar Kartikeya, Kwena Maphaka, Maheesh Theekshana, and Tushar Deshpande.