The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) game is to be played on April 11, 2025, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk) in Chennai

The 25th match of the ongoing IPL edition is scheduled to be played on Friday, April 11, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

The various IPL teams fared poorly in their initial five games in the 18th edition of the league. CSK was perhaps the worst team of the season since a lot of things were not working out.

In their five games, CSK had only one victory and four defeats, all four of them in their last four. Having defeated MI in their opening game of the season, hardly anything appears to be working for the five-time champions. They badly need a victory and are hoping to defeat the defending champions to regain their momentum.

KKR, however, are hardly better placed in the points table. With two victories and three defeats in five games, the three-time winners are placed sixth. They have suffered an irregular run this season, with each victory followed by a defeat. They will hope that continues in their next game, as they got defeated by LSG in their last game.

Match Preview

Chennai Super Kings

After winning their opening match, the Chennai Super Kings have lost four consecutive matches and are now ninth in the points table. Their NRR is also among the worst, and they need some big wins to improve it.

CSK has a strong batting line-up, but they have been underwhelming on several occasions. Apart from Rachin Ravindra and Ruturaj Gaikwad, none of their batsmen have been consistent. Ravindra is the team's leading run-scorer with 145 runs, while Gaikwad has scored two half-centuries.

The team is expecting better performances from Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube, who both failed to convert their starts into match-winning knocks. MS Dhoni had some good cameos, but these did not translate into wins for his team.

The bowlers have fared better in comparison. Noor Ahmad is the tournament's leading wicket-taker with eleven wickets, while Khaleel Ahmed is in second place. Matheesha Pathirana and Ravichandran Ashwin each took five wickets.

Kolkata Knight Riders

The Kolkata Knight Riders have had a season of two wins and three defeats so far. Just when they seem to have turned a corner, they are sliding back down again. They nearly set an enormous 239 in their recent home match but fell four runs short of that. It was a game that they quite frankly should have won, having confidently batted at 162-2 after 13 overs and then folded under pressure.

However, the batting was encouraging. Captain Ajinkya Rahane was the helmsman with a smooth 61 runs off 35, while Venkatesh Iyer (45 runs off 29) and Sunil Narine (30 runs off 13) also made valuable cameos. Rinku Singh's 38 runs off 15 at the tail end gave them hope, but it was short of being enough.

Their batting appears to be on paper, even though Quinton de Kock's inconsistent performance hasn't benefited them much. Andre Russell hasn't been able to get his rhythm with the bat, and Ramandeep Singh has failed to get started.

Their bowling was battered around in this high-scoring contest, but the Chidambaram Stadium surface should be their best friend. Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine can play an important role, bowling eight overs between them. Moeen Ali may also find a place in the XI, probably replacing Spencer Johnson. He would bring another spin bowling option and batting depth.

Pitch Report

The pitch at Chepauk Stadium is quite balanced, giving both batsmen and bowlers a fair shot. It's a bit dry and has a two-tiered nature, meaning batsmen need to acclimate before unleashing their big shots. They’ll also have to be patient and wait for those loose deliveries.

Toss Prediction

Recent performances at Chepauk have favored the team batting first, as they've won the last two IPL 2025 matches here. The surface tends to get slower as the match goes on, making it tough for teams chasing in the second innings.

Weather Report

Weather-wise, players can expect the typical Chennai heat and humidity with clear skies. Warm and humid weather is expected, with a possible light drizzle during the day.

Head to Head

CSK and KKR have faced off 29 times so far, with the Chennai Super Kings coming out on top in 19 of those matches, while KKR has secured 10 victories.

Venue Details

Chepauk usually sees scores hovering around 160 in the first innings. Out of the three IPL 2025 matches held here, Royal Challengers Bengaluru has set the bar high with their impressive score of 196-7 against CSK, clinching victory by 50 runs. The pitch is expected to be on the slower side again, which should give spinners plenty of opportunities to shine. If a team can set a target of 170-180 runs in the first innings, they'll be in a strong position.

Match Prediction

When Chennai Super Kings face off against Kolkata Knight Riders, you can always expect an exciting match. CSK typically has the upper hand at Chepauk, but after suffering two home losses, that edge feels a bit diminished this season. KKR hasn't been perfect either, but they've managed to stay competitive in most of their games. The pitch should play into the hands of their bowlers, especially when it comes to slowing down the game during the middle overs. Chennai will need their top batsmen and bowlers to work well together; otherwise, KKR might just be the safer pick for this match.

We're leaning towards a win for Kolkata Knight Riders in this game.

Betting Tips

This season, both teams have struggled, but CSK has had a notably tougher time. KKR boasts a stronger lineup with more depth and power. We anticipate their bowlers will effectively contain CSK's batting order. Interestingly, CSK's win percentage against KKR stands at 51%, but this time, it leans in KKR's favor.

Bet on KKR.

Probable Playing XI

Chennai Super Kings Playing XI

Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana Impact Player: Shivam Dube.

Kolkata Knight Riders Playing XI

Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Moeen Ali, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy Impact Player: Angkrish Raghuvanshi.

Top Fantasy Picks Dream11 Prediction

Chennai Super Kings Key Players

Ruturaj Gaikwad was the second-highest run-getter during the previous season with 583 runs in 14 games and can be a good captaincy option.

Noor Ahmad is a top-class bowler, and the conditions will be favorable for him. He is a top choice against this rival. He has already picked eleven wickets in five games this season.

Rachin Ravindra has already performed at Chepauk. The left-hander had scored two fifties in excess of 40 (65* and 41). With his team being so desperate to return to winning ways, Rachin is likely to give a blistering start to the innings.

Kolkata Knight Riders Key Players

Sunil Narine is the fantasy team's MVP. He bats at the top and is an excellent off-spinner. Bet on him to deliver in both departments.

Andre Russell is an excellent all-rounder and has a great record at Eden Gardens. He's an excellent bet against this team.

Chepauk is Varun Chakaravarthy's home ground in domestic cricket. With his huge experience at this ground, he's likely to weave a magical net around opponents.