Key Player Matchups to Watch in IPL 2025: RCB vs CSK
Crucial Player Battles in RCB vs CSK IPL 2025 Match
The upcoming IPL 2025 clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) promises to be thrilling, with several key player matchups likely to influence the outcome. These individual battles will be pivotal for both teams. Here’s a detailed look at four significant player confrontations to keep an eye on.
Top 4 Key Player Battles to Watch in RCB vs CSK
| Sno | Players |
| 1 | Virat Kohli vs Khaleel Ahmed |
| 2 | Rajat Patidar vs Ravindra Jadeja |
| 3 | Josh Hazlewood vs Shivam Dube |
| 4 | Virat Kohli vs Ravindra Jadeja |
Virat Kohli vs Khaleel Ahmed
| Year | Runs | Balls | Outs | Dots | 4s | 6s | SR | Avg |
| 2019 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 275.0 | 11.0 |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 100.0 | - |
| 2023 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 125.0 | - |
| 2024 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 350.0 | - |
| 2025 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | - |
| Total | 34 | 23 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 147.8 | 34.0 |
Virat Kohli, the iconic opener for RCB, is known for his aggressive batting style and reliability. However, he faces a tough challenge against Khaleel Ahmed's pace. Their past encounters have shown a mix of results. In 2019, Kohli faced Khaleel for just four balls, scoring 11 runs, including a boundary and a six, with a remarkable strike rate of 275, although Khaleel managed to dismiss him once.
Fast forward to 2024, Kohli scored 7 runs off 2 balls against Khaleel, maintaining a strike rate of 350. Yet, in IPL 2025, he was dismissed without scoring in three balls, which could signal a shift in favor of the bowler. The outcome of Kohli's duel with Khaleel could set the tone for the match.
Rajat Patidar vs Ravindra Jadeja
| Year | Runs | Balls | Outs | Dots | 4s | 6s | SR | Avg |
| 2022 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.0 | - |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.0 | - |
| 2025 | 17 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 188.9 | - |
| Total | 22 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 157.1 | - |
Rajat Patidar's explosive batting makes him a formidable middle-order player for RCB. His history against Ravindra Jadeja has been varied. In IPL 2025, Patidar scored 17 runs off 9 balls against Jadeja, with a strike rate of 188.9, which could be crucial for RCB's innings stability. Jadeja, a seasoned all-rounder for CSK, is known for his economical bowling and knack for taking key wickets during the middle overs.
In their previous encounters, Jadeja restricted Patidar to just 1 run off 1 ball in IPL 2024, showcasing his ability to control the game. Patidar's performance against Jadeja will be pivotal in determining the match's direction.
Josh Hazlewood vs Shivam Dube
| Year | Runs | Balls | Outs | Dots | 4s | 6s | SR | Avg |
| 2021 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 142.9 | - |
| 2022 | 18 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 225.0 | - |
| Total | 28 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 186.7 | - |
Josh Hazlewood's pace and bounce have been crucial for RCB, especially during the death overs. Shivam Dube, a key middle-order batsman for CSK, will face Hazlewood's fast bowling. Their previous encounters have been exciting, with Dube scoring 18 runs off 8 balls against Hazlewood in IPL 2022, including two sixes.
Dube's ability to hit boundaries makes him a dangerous opponent, but Hazlewood's experience and consistency could pose a significant challenge. The contest between Hazlewood's seam and Dube's power-hitting is expected to be one of the highlights of the match.
Virat Kohli vs Ravindra Jadeja
| Year | Runs | Balls | Outs | Dots | 4s | 6s | SR | Avg |
| 2009 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 71.4 | 5.0 |
| 2011 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 100.0 | - |
| 2012 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0 | - |
| 2013 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0 | - |
| 2014 | 19 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 118.8 | 19.0 |
| 2015 | 27 | 22 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 122.7 | - |
| 2016 | 16 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 106.7 | - |
| 2017 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 125.0 | - |
| 2018 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 | 19 | 17 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 111.8 | - |
| 2021 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 100.0 | - |
| 2022 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 87.5 | - |
| 2024 | 17 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 121.4 | - |
| 2025 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 133.3 | - |
| Total | 161 | 148 | 3 | 46 | 8 | 4 | 108.8 | 53.7 |
The rivalry between Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja is well-known, and their encounters in the IPL are always captivating. Kohli has faced Jadeja numerous times, with mixed results. In their early meetings, Kohli struggled against Jadeja's spin, notably in IPL 2014, where he managed only 19 runs off 16 balls. However, Kohli has adapted over the years, showing improvement in his performances against Jadeja.
In IPL 2025, Kohli scored just 4 runs off 3 balls against Jadeja, indicating that the all-rounder remains a formidable opponent. Kohli's ability to handle Jadeja's spin will be crucial for RCB, as Jadeja is a key player for CSK during the middle overs.