CSK vs RR Preview – IPL 2025: A Glimpse of the Future Amid Speculation Over Dhoni's Last Chepauk Game

If not for the revised IPL 2025 schedule, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) would have been playing their final home game of the season at Chepauk. Instead, they face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Delhi — and that shift in venue has sparked one major question: Have we already seen MS Dhoni’s final game at Chepauk? For fans of CSK and Dhoni, it’s a bittersweet situation, with uncertainty hanging over whether the legendary captain will return next season.

Both sides currently occupy the bottom rungs of the points table. RR sit in last place and will remain there if they lose to CSK, while CSK, just above them, have one more game left to improve their standing. Despite forgettable campaigns, each team has found glimmers of hope through emerging talent.

CSK have uncovered a match-winner in Noor Ahmad, the 20-year-old Afghan wristspinner who has taken 20 wickets at an impressive average of 17.25. He has been instrumental in the few matches CSK have won, especially with key wickets in the middle and death overs. Noor’s breakout season has marked him as a long-term asset for the franchise.

For Rajasthan Royals, Riyan Parag has emerged as a consistent contributor with the bat. He is on the verge of completing 400 runs for the season and has also taken leadership responsibilities in the absence of Sanju Samson. With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, Parag will want to end this season strongly to keep himself in the national selectors’ radar.

However, while some young players have impressed, the experienced bowlers on both sides have underwhelmed. RR’s Wanindu Hasaranga, typically a T20 dynamo, has taken just ten wickets in 37 overs at a high average of 34.40. Even worse, CSK’s R Ashwin has picked up only five wickets in eight games, averaging 48.40 — his worst season since his debut in 2009. These struggles have contributed heavily to both teams’ poor performances.

CSK have had the worst-performing top order this season, averaging just 23.68 while striking at 140.74 — both the lowest in the league. Meanwhile, RR have the worst bowling average and economy rate, conceding 10.02 runs per over on average. These combined weaknesses have kept them rooted to the bottom of the table.

Looking at team selections, CSK will again rely on their available overseas players — Devon Conway, Dewald Brevis, Noor Ahmad, and Matheesha Pathirana — alongside promising young Indians like Ayush Mhatre and Urvil Patel. Dhoni is expected to continue behind the stumps and in his familiar leadership role.

RR are likely to persist with the opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, with Sanju Samson, Parag, and Shimron Hetmyer forming the middle order. The bowling unit, including Hasaranga, Tushar Deshpande, and Fazalhaq Farooqi, will need to step up if RR are to end their campaign on a high note.

The match will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, a venue that has consistently produced high-scoring games. The average first-innings score this season is 192, and teams chasing have often had the upper hand — with dew and short boundaries contributing to that trend.

Finally, as CSK and RR prepare to square off for the 32nd time in IPL history (CSK lead 16-15), there’s more at stake than just points. For CSK fans, it’s the emotional weight of possibly watching Dhoni in his final days on the field, and for both teams, it’s a chance to end a tough season with some pride — and promise for the future.

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