The 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League has certainly provided plenty of drama, exciting finishes, and breakout performances. However, with the tournament reaching its final stages the focus will shift slightly for two of the bottom-ranked franchises in Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) as they meet in Match 62 of the season. The match in Delhi may not impact the playoff race, but it still has personal and strategic significance to both franchises.
The Move from Chepauk to Delhi
Originally scheduled for Chennai, there is now added poignancy for CSK fans who can’t help but think they may have already seen MS Dhoni play his last match at Chepauk. The legendary captain leading CSK may have stagnant as example of performance, poise, and credibility. However, if the contest in Delhi serves as MS Dhoni’s penultimate match, fans will hold their collective breath to see if he has one last dance left in him.
Playing for Pride, Planning for the Future
CSK and RR have had disappointing seasons to date, and their respective positions are among the bottom franchises on the table. For franchises such as these, this stage of the tournament is about using the matches to trial some options and begin the construction of next year.
For CSK, several youngsters have started to make a name for themselves within the team. Dewald Brevis, Urvil Patel, Ayush Mhatre, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi have all put some excitement into CSK. They have used 22 players this season to date (the most any franchise has used) and unfortunately for them, this can be attributed to injuries and their willingness to experiment.
It has also been promising for RR in Riyan Parag and Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Parag has stepped in a leadership role in the absence of Samson, and is on the cusp of going back to back with over 400 runs in a season. Excitingly, with a home T20 World Cup on the horizon, he will be keen to solidify his place in the National Team.
Team News and Likely XIs
Chennai Super Kings are likely to use their overseas options as available: Brevis, Noor Ahmad, Devon Conway, and Matheesha Pathirana. As they need to make up for injuries, using the same selection may be imperative for their final games. Selection is also going to be predicated on players such as Jadeja and Ashwin around whom the inclusion of younger names in it’s entirety, or the discussion of retention will be front and centre.
CSK Likely XI:
Ayush Mhatre
Urvil Patel
Devon Conway
Ravindra Jadeja
Dewald Brevis
Shivam Dube
R Ashwin
MS Dhoni (capt & wk)
Anshul Kamboj
Noor Ahmad
Khaleel Ahmed
Matheesha Pathirana
On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals have welcomed a young opening batter, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who is just 14 years old and continues to amaze. Sanju Samson came back from injury in the latest match but still may bat at No. 3, allowing the teenager to continue to grab the limelight at the top.
RR Likely XI:
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Vaibhav Suryavanshi
Sanju Samson (capt & wk)
Riyan Parag
Shimron Hetmyer
Dhruv Jurel
Shubham Dubey
Wanindu Hasaranga
Kwena Maphaka
Tushar Deshpande
Akash Madhwal
Fazalhaq Farooqi
Bowlers Under the Lens
There is also an audit of sorts to consider for a few senior bowlers in light of their below par performances. While Wanindu Hasaranga has a good overall T20 record, his average this season of 34.40 — which is almost double his career average — is a concern. With only ten wickets from 37 overs, he has been a disappointment for Sri Lanka.
R Ashwin’s numbers are even scarier. With only five wickets taken from eight games and an average of 48.40, he is having one of the worst IPL season’s since he began in 2009.
Pitch and Conditions
Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi has short boundaries and a batting-friendly surface. The average first innings score at Arun Jaitley Stadium this season has been 192, so we could expect a high-scoring match. Dew might also play a part in the second innings, which might make the toss more vital.
Gujarat Titans chased 200 last game at Arun Jaitley stadium against Delhi Capitals, where innings can add up quickly if the batters get going.
Stats and Trivia
CSK and RR have played 31 games in IPL history. CSK have the edge in head to head with 16 wins vs RR’s 15.
CSK’s top-order batting has been the weakest among all teams this season with a batting average of 23.68 and strike rate of 140.74.
RR has the poorest bowling figures among all teams this season with a bowling average of 44.84 and a bowling economy of 10.02.
Final Thoughts
While we know that playoffs are unattainable, CSK vs RR is more than a ‘dead rubber’ – it is a game of redemption, reputation and a look ahead towards both team’s futures as franchises with history. As fans prepare to usher in what may be one of MS Dhoni’s final matches; we can expect an emotional edge, while the young players excited to seize the opportunity to shine on the grand stage.
Perhaps it may be Ayush Mhatre marching into .
No doubt we could see Riyan Parag anchor a chase.
This match could pave the way for a fresh start for IPL 2026.
And for the devotees of Dhoni, every moment moving forward in time will be well spent – the man who has made yellow a second skin may just be walking into the sunset.
