IPL 2025: RCB Playing XI vs CSK- Match 8

The three-time runners-up of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Royal Challengers Bengaluru, went through a smooth journey in the opening game of the competition against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens. They will face the Chennai Super Kings on March 28, 2025, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

The management appointed Rajat Patidar as the new leader and he went through a smooth time in the opening game. Their bowling didn’t click in the first six overs of the innings, but they made a fantastic comeback in the middle overs thanks to both the spinners.

IPL 2025: RCB Playing XI vs CSK- Match 8

Openers- Phil Salt and Virat Kohli

Chasing 175 in the second innings, RCB made a rollicking start in the second innings, as Phil Salt started with a boundary on the very first ball. He nailed Vaibhav Arora around the park. Virat Kohli joined him in the knock and smacked Spencer Johnson in all parts of the ground.

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Ajinkya Rahane was quick to use Varun Chakravarthy, the Indian mystery spinner, in the attack. But Salt was prepared for the attack and drilled the Tamil Nadu spinners for a few big shots and celebrated his half-century soon after the end of the powerplay, where they made 80/0.

Salt ended with 56 runs in just 31 balls, shouldering on nine boundaries and a couple of sixes at a strike rate of 180.65, while Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 59 runs in 36 deliveries, thanks to four boundaries and three over boundaries at a strike rate of 163.89.

Middle order- Rajat Patidar (c), Devdutt Padikkal, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk.), Tim David

Devdutt Padikkal came as the impact substitute for RCB in the opening game against the Knight Riders. But the Karnataka southpaw struggled with just 10 runs at run-a-ball, with the help of one boundary. Rajat Patidar had so much responsibility coming into the new season, with the additional pressure of captaincy.

The right-handed batter drilled 34 runs in 16 balls, thanks to five boundaries and one six at a strike rate of 212.50 at number four to kill the game. Liam Livingstone didn’t waste much time to smash 15 runs in five balls to carry them over the line.

Livingstone’s few overs with the ball will be vital for RCB on the slow and spinning surface of the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Jitesh Sharma’s keeping was fantastic in the opening game, but it will be an acid test for him against the spinners during the RCB vs CSK fixture.

However, they can replace Tim David with Jacob Bethell in the clash, as the letter could provide a few overs of left-arm spin and bat at number six.

Bowlers: Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Salam, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood was excellent with his first couple of overs in the powerplay, besides claiming the wicket of Quinton de Kock. He finished with figures of 2/22 in his four overs, while Yash Dayal pulled the scoring back at the back end of the innings thanks to 1/25 in three overs.

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Krunal Pandya changed the flow of the game towards RCB with figures of 3/29 in his four overs, while Suyash Sharma, after a tough start, collected the biggest wicket of Andre Russell. The only concern for them in the bowling department is Rasikh Salam, who had 1/35 in his three overs.

RCB may not want to break the winning combination, but they can replace Rasikh with Bhuvneshwar Kumar if the latter gets fit for the next clash.

RCB Predicted Playing XI vs CSK- IPL 2025, Match 8

Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Paddikal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk.), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Salam/Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood.

Impact Subs: Yash Dayal.