CSK are grappling with the loss of Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was ruled out of the tournament due to an elbow injury. MS Dhoni will now take over the leadership reins once again, aiming to turn the tide for the struggling Super Kings, who have lost four games on the trot. Meanwhile, KKR will look to capitalize on their strong squad, featuring mystery spinners with skipper Ajinkya Rahane leading the charge.
Match Details: CSK vs KKR
- Date: April 11, 2025
- Time: 19:30 IST
- Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Head-to-head: CSK 19 – 10 KKR
- Recent Record at Chepauk: CSK – 7 Wins, KKR – 3 Wins
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar & Star Sports Network
MA Chidambaram Stadium Pitch & Venue Report
The Chennai pitch is known for its slow nature, favoring spinners, with the red-soil surface offering more assistance as the game progresses. Batting becomes increasingly difficult in the second innings as the ball gets older, making chasing a challenge. The average score at Chepauk in IPL 2024 was around 170, so expect both teams to target that mark.
Pitch Type: Spin-friendly
- Weather: Clear skies, ideal for cricket
- Boundaries: Square boundaries at 64m and 70m, straight boundary at 78m
- Average First Innings Score: 170 (Par score)
MA Chidambaram Stadium IPL stats
Category | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Strike Rate | 4w/5w |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pacers | 1372 | 2037 | 74 | 8.9 | 18.5 | 2/0 |
Spinners | 667 | 808 | 25 | 7.26 | 26.6 | 0/0 |
CSK – Team News & Tactics
Injuries/Unavailability:
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s absence will be keenly felt, and CSK could bring in Rahul Tripathi as his replacement at the top, or possibly a middle-order option like Vansh Bedi to strengthen the batting lineup.
Key Matchups:
- Matheesha Pathirana could be used early to target Sunil Narine, who struggles against pace early on.
- R Ashwin has a solid record against KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane, and he will likely be CSK’s go-to option in the middle overs.
Probable XI:
Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Rachin Ravindra, Shivam Dube, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (C & WK), R Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Matheesha Pathirana, Mukesh Choudhary/Anshul Kamboj
KKR – Team News & Tactics
Key Matchups:
- Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy will be crucial for KKR, especially when MS Dhoni comes to the crease. Dhoni’s record against Narine and Chakaravarthy isn’t stellar, which could tempt KKR to hold back their spinners for the death overs.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz may get a chance in the playing XI, as he has shown form in the nets, and his familiarity against Noor Ahmad makes him a viable option.
Probable XI:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Moeen Ali/Spencer Johnson, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora
CSK vs KKR Dream11 Prediction Team, Fantasy Tips
Wicketkeepers
Player | Notes |
---|---|
MS Dhoni | Veteran finisher, can turn the game in the death overs, reliable with the bat and behind the stumps |
Devon Conway | Consistent run-scorer, excellent strike rate at Chepauk, and can anchor innings for CSK. |
Batters
Player | Notes |
---|---|
Ajinkya Rahane (C/VC) | Reliable, anchors the innings, crucial for KKR’s success in the middle overs. |
Angkrish Raghuvanshi | Emerging talent, capable of explosive starts, must pick for the top order. |
Rachin Ravindra | Promising middle-order batter, versatile, and can provide balance. |
Allrounders
Player | Notes |
---|---|
Ravindra Jadeja | Top-class bowler at Chepauk, handy with the bat, especially in the lower middle order. |
Rachin Ravindra | A valuable option for both batting and bowling, providing the extra spin option. |
Sunil Narine (C/VC) | Spinner extraordinaire, crucial in containing CSK’s top order, also handy with the bat. |
Bowlers
Player | Notes |
---|---|
Matheesha Pathirana | Fast and aggressive with the new ball, can get early breakthroughs. |
Noor Ahmad (C/VC) | Impressive wrist-spinner, can exploit the conditions and take key wickets. |
Varun Chakaravarthy (C/VC) | Key weapon for KKR, excellent at controlling the middle overs. |
Harshit Rana | Young pacer, can extract bounce and be a handful in the powerplay. |
Key Matchups to Watch
Batter | Bowler | Runs | Balls | Wickets | SR | Avg |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MS Dhoni | Sunil Narine | 15 | 18 | 1 | 83.33 | 11 |
Shivam Dube | Varun Chakaravarthy | 12 | 15 | 2 | 80.00 | 6 |
Ajinkya Rahane | R Ashwin | 23 | 26 | 2 | 88.46 | 11.5 |
Top Captain/Vice-Captain Picks
Sunil Narine – Veteran spinner has 15 wickets in just 11 matches at Chepauk at a tremendous economy of 5.7.
- MS Dhoni – A key finisher, with a record of thriving in high-pressure situations at Chepauk.
- Ravindra Jadeja – A match-winner with the ball, also capable of hitting quick runs with the bat.
- Noor Ahmad – Wrist-spinner, deadly on slow pitches like Chepauk, could be crucial in the middle overs.
Editor's Pick
