The third match of the much-anticipated IPL 2025 is set to be an exciting face-off between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Mumbai Indians (MI) on March 23 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, better known as Chepauk, in Chennai. Fans are buzzing about this clash because both of these teams are the top dogs in IPL history, each having won five titles. So, let’s take a closer look at some key player matchups that could really shape the game.
First up is the showdown between Rohit Sharma and Sam Curran.
Rohit has been a standout player in the IPL over the years, but he does have a bit of a struggle when it comes to facing left-arm seamers. Those in-swinging deliveries can really throw him off his game. In fact, Rohit has fallen victim to left-arm pacers 29 times throughout his 101 IPL innings, averaging only 24.10 when facing them, according to ESPNcricinfo. This is definitely where Sam Curran could take advantage. He’s shown that he can handle new balls well and has claimed Rohit’s wicket once in their nine T20 battles. His overall record includes 78 T20 wickets during the powerplay with an economy rate of 8.14, so this matchup could be crucial for the outcome.
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Next, we have Ruturaj Gaikwad going up against Trent Boult.
Ruturaj, who not only opens for CSK but also captains the team, knows that he needs to be on his toes against Boult’s swing and speed. The left-arm bowler has dismissed him three times in just five encounters, holding Ruturaj to a mere 23 runs off 26 balls in this matchup. Boult is among the top bowlers for powerplay wickets in IPL history, with 62 to his name, making this battle pretty critical for Ruturaj if he hopes to steer CSK in the right direction during those opening overs.
Moving on to another interesting matchup, we have Suryakumar Yadav facing off against Ravichandran Ashwin.
CSK brought Ashwin back for INR 9.75 crore, counting on him to take charge as the main spinner, particularly on the spin-friendly Chepauk track. Ashwin has been one of the best spinners in IPL history, even if his performance has dipped a little in recent seasons. For MI, Suryakumar, often called SKY, will have the important task of holding the middle order together, especially with Hardik Pandya out.
Last season, he managed to score 345 runs, and he’s shown the ability to handle Ashwin’s various deliveries. He’s faced Ashwin 79 times, scoring an impressive 115 runs without ever getting out. This encounter between these two big-name players in the middle overs could really set the tone for the match.
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Finally, the young talent Tilak Varma will be taking on Ravichandran Ashwin as well.
Tilak has been on fire lately, having performed exceptionally for India in the shorter format and even bagging a couple of centuries. He’ll be looking to make a mark batting in Mumbai’s top four. On the other side, Ashwin has consistently performed well against left-handed batsmen and has had some success against Tilak before. He has bowled 41 deliveries to Tilak in past encounters, giving away just 49 runs while claiming his wicket once. This matchup has all the hallmarks of being a game changer, potentially deciding which team walks away as the victor.
As we gear up for this electrifying match, keep an eye on these player battles. They could make all the difference on the field!
