Match 52 of the IPL 2025 season sees Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Chennai Super Kings at home. RCB are one of the title contenders this season and are on the verge of making it to the playoffs. RCB own 7 wins and 3 defeats from 10 matches. Rajat Patidar’s men are looking to complete the double over CSK this season, having beaten them by 50 runs at Chepauk. CSK has already been eliminated this season as they lie at the bottom of the 10-team standings with just two wins from 10 games. MS Dhoni’s men need to find inspiration from somewhere and get things going against RCB.

As per weather reports, a rain threat looms over the RCB-CSK clash in Bengaluru. On Friday, teams saw their training sessions get disrupted. So if there is rainfall, which ends the clash prematurely, it will serve as a huge blow for RCB, who can go atop the standings with a win.

RCB are a well-knit side this season, and their batting and bowling departments have both clicked so far. Virat Kohli leads the show with the bat, and Josh Hazlewood has been superb with the ball. Opener Phil Salt had missed RCB’s previous game due to illness. If he misses again, Jacob Bethell could retain his place at the top of the order. For CSK, their sorry squad assembly has robbed them big time.

CSK have done well in this rivalry, though, winning 21 of the 34 meetings. RCB have pocketed 12 wins.

Ahead of the match, we decode the 5 player battles from the upcoming contest.

Posts kohli vs ravindra jads

RCB talisman Virat Kohli loves facing Chennai, and he will be keen to be amongst the runs once again. 36-year-old Kohli owns 1084 runs against CSK, and he has also done relatively well against left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja. Across 20 innings against the spinner, Kohli averages a neat 53.66, scoring 161 runs from 148 balls. His strike rate is 108.78. Jadeja, who dismissed Kohli thrice, bowled 46 dot balls in this duel. Kohli is currently the 5th-highest scorer in IPL 2025. He has scored 443 runs at 63.28. On the other hand, Jadeja has bagged just 7 wickets this season from 10 matches at 31.42. As per ESPNcricinfo, Kohli has fallen to spin just twice in eight innings this IPL. He averages a solid 109.5 against spinners.

Khaleel AHmed vs devdutt padikkal

CSK pacer Khaleel Ahmed has been top-notch in IPL 2025, especially in the power play. Khaleel could come up against Devdutt Padikkal if RCB lose one of their openers early on. Notably, Padikkal, who has had a sound IPL 2025 season, has been dismissed twice in 2 innings against Khaleel. Padikkal has faced 4 balls from the bowler, scoring 0 runs and losing his wicket twice. Khaleel, who owns 14 wickets this season, has dismissed left-handed batters 28 times in the IPL from 64 innings at an average of 29.25.

Josh Hazlewood vs Sam Curran

Josh Hazlewood has been in top form this season and is the 2nd-highest wicket-taker with 18 scalps under his belt. He has been fighting for the Purple Cap with Prasidh Krishna, and there has been a change in the summit every now and then. For CSK, all-rounder Sam Curran will continue his exploits at number 3. He scored a fine fifty in the previous match against PBKS. Hazlewood will be tempted to bowl well against Curran and not give him much room. In just one inning (20-over cricket), Curran has scored 7 runs off the bowler from 4 balls without being dismissed. Overall, Hazlewood averages 22.61 versus left-handed batters in the IPL, claiming 21 wickets from 34 innings.

Krunal Pandya vs shivam dube

RCB spinner Krunal Pandya can be a tough prospect with his accuracy and ability to bowl quick overs. With 13 scalps from 10 matches this season for his new side, RCB, Krunal has shown his quality. He averages a neat 21.46. Krunal could come up against CSK’s Shivam Dube. He has 248 runs this season for the Men in Yellow. Across 2 IPL innings, Krunal has conceded 11 runs off 9 balls to Dube (0 dismissals).

Rajat Patidar vs Noor Ahmad

CSK spinner Noor Ahmad is leading the wicket charts for the Men in Yellow this season with 15 wickets at an average of 19.20. His battle with RCB skipper Rajat Patidar can be exciting in the middle overs. Patidar has been particularly destructive against spinners in the format, and he can go wild with his effective stroke play. Notably, his strike rate against them in the IPL is an impressive 170.13. In terms of the battle against Noor, Patidar has smashed the left-arm spinner for 13 runs off 10 balls without being dismissed. Noor has the most wickets in overs 7 to 16 in IPL 2025 (13 scalps).