RR’s stand-in skipper Parag needs to pull his weight both with the bat and on the field.
| Photo Credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR

Visiting teams don’t often force Chennai Super Kings into submission at the MAC Stadium, but Royal Challengers Bengaluru after a long 17-year- gap did just that on Friday.

With little time to recover after the demoralising defeat, the Super Kings will look to bounce back in its first away game of the season against Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday (March 30, 2025).

The Royals have had a disappointing start to its campaign, losing the first two matches in contrasting fashion. After getting hammered by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the high-scoring opener at Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders exploited RR’s batting weaknesses, with Moeen Ali and Varun Chakaravarthy spinning a web, at Guwahati.

RR’s batting line-up has lacked clarity and consistency, with struggles against spin particularly evident. Sanju Samson is still recovering from his finger injury and stand-in skipper Riyan Parag’s inexperience has been clearly visible. RR’s bowling department has yet to fire, and it will look to its pace spearhead, Jofra Archer, to show the way.

The Super Kings, on the other hand, might replace Sam Curran with Nathan Ellis, as this venue has proven to be a happy hunting ground for the Aussie previously. During the 2023 season, while playing for Punjab Kings, Ellis recorded his best IPL figures (four for 30) against the same opponent.

With the surface expected to be slow and low, it could be an interesting battle between the two teams who are eager to return to winning ways.