We are ready for the Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (CSK vs RCB) match, which is the eighth match of the IPL 2025 and will be played on Friday evening (March 28) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai. Here, we are going through the top favourite names for the captain and vice-captain of Dream11 for the match. 

IPL 2025, Match 8: CSK vs RCB Probable XIs

Chennai Super Kings Predicted Playing 11: Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain), Rahul Tripathi/Khaleel Ahmed (Impact Player Sub), Deepak Hooda, Shivam Dube, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Nathan Ellis, Noor Ahmad

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Predicted Playing 11: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar (Captain), Devdutt Padikkal/Suyash Sharma (Impact Player Sub), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Salam/Swapnil Singh, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal 

See Also: RCB’s Last Win vs CSK in Chepauk: World was Different in 2008

IPL 2025, Match 8: CSK vs RCB Dream11 Top Captains And Vice-captains

Top 3 Captain's choices

Rachin Ravindra: New Zealand cricketer Rachin Ravindra is in great form with the bat. While CSK had a tricky chase of 156 runs against Mumbai Indians in their IPL 2025 opener, Ravindra scored 65 not out off 45 balls with two fours and four sixes, as CSK managed to chase the target despite losing wickets at regular intervals. His spin bowling is also an asset for his team.  

Krunal Pandya: While RCB managed a solid start in the IPL 2025 with a seven-wicket thrashing win against the hosts and defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Krunal Pandya was the main character why RCB return to the game and never lost the plot since then. The left-arm spinner maintained tight lines in the IPL 2025 opener as he dismissed set captain Ajinkya Rahane (56), Venkatesh Iyer (6), and Rinku Singh (12). He had the bowling figures of 4-0-29-3 as he won the Player of the Match award. In Chennai, he can play another crucial role for his team with the ball. 

Virat Kohli: Former RCB captain Virat Kohli is now in great form with the bat in white-ball cricket. The leading run-scorer in IPL history started the IPL 2025 in familiar style as his powerful 59 not out off 36 balls (four fours and three sixes) had an important role in the successful 175-run chase. 

Top 3 Vice-captain's choices

Noor Ahmad: The Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad was the hero for CSK in their first game of the IPL 2025, where they beat Mumbai Indians by four wickets with five balls to spare. While they restricted MI to 155/9 in 20 overs, Noor had the bowling figures of 4-0-18-4, as he dismissed Suryakumar Yadav (29), Robin Minz (3), Tilak Varma (31), and Naman Dhit (17). 

Khaleel Ahmed: While Noor Ahmed was the Player of the Match for CSK in their IPL 2025 opener, the left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed set the tone for that with his two wickets in the powerplay. In his first two overs, Khaleel dismissed Rohit Sharma (0) and Ryan Rickelton (0). Later, in the slog overs, he dismissed Trent Boult (1) and finished with the bowling figures of 4-0-29-3. 

Ravindra Jadeja: Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is always a key name in any format of cricket as he is a rare asset for any team. In Chennai, his left-arm spin bowling is key, while the left-handed batter can also play crucial cameos. In their first IPL 2025 match against Mumbai Indians, while Jadeja controlled with the bowling figures of 3-0-21-0, he came at a crucial time in the batting and set up the match-saver 36-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Rachin Ravindra before the Indian cricketer was run out for 17 runs. 

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) camp buzzed with excitement as all-rounder Krunal Pandya celebrated his 34th birthday in style. 

The celebrations were observed at RCB’s Bold Diaries which was provided by bigbasket, clearly bringing life to the atmosphere gathering at the team’s base in Bengaluru. As is customary, the celebrations began pandya was welcomed with cakes which left everyone elated. Pandya was met with warm greetings from everyone after the cake-cutting ceremony, where he was showered with praise for remaining “cool-headed” while greeting the staff.

KRUNAL PANDYA BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION IN THE RCB CAMP. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/r010Ct8PNk

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 24, 2025

Also Read: Nicholas Pooran's smashing over: 28 runs in just six balls!

The celebration did not end there, as it showcased the bond RCB share with each other, which is a rare sight to behold. The coaching staff that was present, commanded by Andy Flower, got off their chair and did their part too: “Spin it, smash it, win it!” was their message. RCB social accounts took a call and started referring to him as the “sorcerer supreme” and his all-round magic. In addition, the fans took to “X” and started wishing him in hordes under the hashtag #HappyBirthdayKrunal which was coveted in seconds.

With social media buzzing as fans and the team dubbed him the “Sorcerer Supreme.” The birthday celebration has added a positive vibe to the RCB camp.

Hardik Pandya shared birthday wishes for his brother Krunal Pandya. Hardik Pandya shared a heartfelt post. He called Krunal his biggest supporter and he said that he is very proud of the amazing father he is to his son, Agu. Hardik also spoke about their special bond. He added that he’s excited to see their kids grow up together, just like they did.

Hardik’s heartfelt message: "My big bro! Tough to put into words just how much you mean to me. Always there, always in my corner, and the best KP papa to Agu. I’m so proud of how far we’ve come, and how much we’ve grown together, and now we get to see our beautiful boys grow up together too. Love you always, bhai, and wish you a very happy birthday."

My big bro! Tough to put into words just how much you mean to me. Always there, always in my corner, and the best KP papa to Agu. I’m so proud of how far we’ve come, how much we’ve grown together and now we get to see our beautiful boys grow up together too. Love you always bhai… pic.twitter.com/L3ygz66shF

— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) March 24, 2025

Meanwhile, Krunal Pandya made a strong start in IPL 2025 after joining Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for ₹5.75 crore. The first match of IPL 2025 RCB played against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He bowled very well in that match taking 3 wickets from four overs. His performance helped Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) restrict KKR to 174/8. RCB comfortably chased the target and won the game by seven wickets.

ALSO READ: Malti Chahar’s Hilarious Instagram Story Sparks Laughter After CSK vs. MI Clash

After the game, Krunal shared a simple but powerful message about his bowling approach: "If you get hit, it should only be on a good ball."With his all-round skills and experience, Krunal is showing from the first match how he is a key player for RCB in this IPL 2025 season.

A sensational bowler's performance from Krunal Pandya against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during the IPL season’s first match kept the audience on the edge of their seats. The franchise’s left-arm spinner showcased his magic on the field by collecting three vital wickets for merely 29 runs through his four-over stint.  

Krunal’s efforts slowed KKR’s batting pace down a notch. Precision and timing, combined with sharp variations and round arm deliveries made efficient settling impossible for the KKR batters. He earned important pieces of the puzzle for his team, which enabled them to take complete control over the match.  

Krunal Pandya delivers a masterclass spell against Kolkata Knight Riders. pic.twitter.com/aXEXzg5rJZ

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) March 22, 2025

Also Read: Watch: Ajinkya Rahane's Crucial Wicket in KKR vs RCB IPL 2025 Match

This performance portrays that Krunal Pandya is not only limited to batting. He is undoubtedly one of the finest allrounders that the nation has produced. His spell is one of a few matched performed, so if he maintains this momentum, it will guarantee immense strength to the team throughout the tournament. His spell reduced the attendance of the opposition batters in the middle and boosted the confidence of his bowlers.  

watch: RCB VS KKR 1st IPL Match Live Streaming: Where & How to Watch on the tv and online

In the season opener of IPL 2025, played at Eden Gardens between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane led from the front with a blistering knock. He made 56 off just 31 balls, finished off with a barrage of six fours and four sixes, and showed his class throughout with attacking intent to set a solid foundation for KKR early on in their innings.

Also Read: Ajinkya Rahane Smashes Quickfire Half-Century in IPL 2025 Opener

Rahane's Dismissal – A Turning Point

The well crafted innings by Rahane came to a premature end when he tried to pull a shot against Krunal Pandya. Unfortunately, he pulled the shot too early and the ball ended up landing in Rasikh Salam's hands at deep backward square leg. That was a very important wicket and it gave RCB the much needed momentum shift along with giving them a breakthrough that changed the course of the match.

Live Score Update: KKR vs RCB

As of now on March 22, 2025, in the opening match of IPL 2025 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are batting against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). KKR's score stands at 173/8 after 19.5 overs.

Wickets in consecutive overs for RCB 🔥☝️☝️

KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane walks back after an explosive 56-run knock 💜👏

RCB are back in the game 💪

KKR - 109/3 (10.3)#KrunalPandya #AjinkyaRahane #KKRvRCB #IPL2025 #Sportskeeda pic.twitter.com/YMZu9HmXpb

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) March 22, 2025

In a development that will strengthen the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team ahead of IPL 2025, all-rounder Krunal Pandya will wear the legendary red and gold jersey. The veteran cricketer, who has been on red-hot form, is a leader with many strings to his bow and delivers match-winning performances to a team eager for their first IPL crown.

A Leader Who Delivers

Krunal has had a phenomenal two-year run, guiding his side to successive DY Patil Tournament titles in 2024 and 2025. His capacity to deliver the goods during pressure situations, both with bat and ball, made him the Player of the Series winner, which further reinforced his image as an authentic match-winner

- Captain.
- Defended the Trophy.
- Won the DY Patil Tournament in 2024 & 2025.
- Player of the series.
- All round performance with bat & ball.

KRUNAL PANDYA, THE CHAMPION WILL BE JOINING RCB SOON FOR IPL 2025 💪 pic.twitter.com/HPowGpC68l

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 5, 2025

ALSO SEE: India vs New Zealand: Head-to-Head Record in ICC Events

Not only an all-rounder, Krunal has emerged as a pressure player captain as well. Keeping a title aloft is not easy, but his coolness and keen cricketing brain took him and his team to back-to-back wins.

What He Brings to RCB

RCB's search for an IPL trophy has been frustrating and long, but Krunal's presence might prove to be a game-changer. His capability of playing in more than one role whether as a finisher, a powerplay enforcer, or a trusted left-arm spinner brings tremendous balance to the side.

With his experience and successful record in domestic and franchise cricket, RCB supporters will be expecting Krunal to bring his championship-winning form to the biggest T20 stage.

As the season of IPL 2025 draws near, everyone will be looking at how champion Krunal Pandya will fit into RCB's scheme of things. Will this be the season when Bangalore finally gets its hands on the much-coveted trophy? Fans can only wait and see! 

Some situations in cricket are not easy for bowlers, such as when batters take full advantage of a single over. Over the years, a few Indian bowlers have experienced such tough moments in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Below are some situations where Indian bowlers gave the maximum number of runs to the opponent in an over within the same ODI match.

1. Ishant Sharma – 30 runs against Australia, 2013

When Ishant Sharma suffered at the hands of James Faulkner when on his way to a 30-run over against Australia in 2013, he was on the receiving end of several boundaries and sixes, which changed the course of the match in Australia's favor. It was one of the costliest overs for an Indian in ODI history.

2. Yuvraj Singh – 30 runs against England (2007)

As one of the established batsmen, Yuvraj also bowled occasional part-time spin. During one ODI vs England in 2007 he was utterly ripped apart by Dimitri Mascarenhas who plundered five sixes from that over and dismissed him for a total of 30 runs through that last over of the innings.

ALSOREAD: Indian Batsmen with the Most Centuries After Turning 30

3. Krunal Pandya-28 v Eng (2021)

Krunal Pandya was an all-rounder who faced the tough over in 2021 against England. In that game, Sam Curran and Jonny Bairstow of England played aggressively against Krunal and took 28 runs off a single over bowled by him. That cost India heavily as England accelerated in the match.

ALSO READ:Why Indian Cricketers Don't Play Ranji Trophy

4. Harshit Rana – 26 runs against England (2025)

In 2025, a young pacer, Harshit Rana, conceded 26 runs in an over against England. The over was full of boundaries and sixes, leaving India under severe pressure. In other parts of the game, Rana did pretty well and took 3 wickets, but this over would become one of the most expensive overs by an Indian in ODIs.

Lucknow Super Giants played really well against Gujarat Titans at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. The bowlers of LSG did a fantastic job, making it tough for the Titans to score runs. Even though Titans tried to challenge the target of 165 runs set by LSG, they couldn’t keep up for long.

Yash Thakur from LSG was outstanding, taking 5 wickets for just 30 runs in less than 4 overs. Krunal Pandya also did great, getting three wickets. With their superb bowling, LSG managed to bowl out Titans for only 130 runs in 18.5 overs. This gave LSG a 33-run victory in front of their cheering home fans. This win was LSG’s third in the season, showing their strong performance. Meanwhile, Titans faced their third loss out of five matches played so far.

Krunal Pandya and Yash Thakur makes an impact behind the win

Krunal Pandya, who hasn’t been in top form lately in the IPL, showed his old magic on Sunday. He bowled amazingly, taking three crucial wickets. He dismissed Sudharsan in the ninth over, then got Darshan Nalkande and BR Sharath in the same over. Pandya bowled four overs, gave away just 11 runs, and took three wickets.

Mayank Yadav couldn’t continue playing due to a side strain, so Thakur stepped up. He did exceptionally well.

Thakur bowled so fast that even GT captain Gill couldn’t handle it and got out. Then, in his second over in the 15th over of the game, he bowled two maiden wickets, which dashed any hopes GT had left. Thakur dismissed Vijay Shankar and Rashid Khan, then took two more wickets in the penultimate over, completing a fantastic five-wicket haul.

See Also: Lucknow Super Giants beat Gujarat Titans by 33 runs; Points Table updated

Marcus Stoinis flourish with his performance

Earlier, Lucknow Super Giants decided to bat first after winning the toss. Marcus Stoinis played really well and scored 58 runs from 43 balls. He hit four boundaries and two sixes. KL Rahul also played an important role, scoring 33 runs from 31 balls. Together, Stoinis and Rahul added 73 runs to help Super Giants recover after losing two early wickets.

Nicholas Pooran played a great innings towards the end, scoring 32 runs from 22 balls. He hit a six in each of the last three overs, helping Super Giants reach a total of 163 runs. Ayush Badoni also contributed with a quick 20 runs from 11 balls. They added 31 runs together, which was important for the team.

IPL 2023, 10th Match: Lucknow Super Giants 127 for 5 (Rahul 35, Krunal 34, Rashid 2-23) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 121 for 8 (Tripathi 34, Anmolpreet 31, Krunal 3-18, Mishra 2-23) by five wickets

On a sluggish, low and passing on dark soil surface at the Ekana Cricket Arena, Lucknow Super Monsters’ spinners kept Sunrisers Hyderabad from hurries to set up a five-wicket win.

Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to bat, but his team only managed 121 for 8. Mark Wood (flu) and Avesh Khan (injury) were out for the Super Giants, but Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, and Amit Mishra made sure their absence was not felt. In their combined 12 overs, the trio went 6 for 57, with Mayank Agarwal, Anmolpreet Singh, and Markram taking wickets for Krunal.

KL Rahul and Kyle Mayers started off the pursuit by adding 35 in 4.3 overs. Mayers and Deepak Hooda were out in consecutive overs, but Krunal ended the game with a 23-ball 34. The Super Giants still had four overs remaining when Nicholas Pooran hit the winning six.

Impact Player strategy

Markram, Harry Brook, and Adil Rashid started for Sunrisers, giving them the option to use Heinrich Klaasen in the event of a collapse or one of Marco Jansen or Fazalhaq Farooqi to boost their bowling in the second half. At 55 for 4 after nine overs, it appeared that Klaasen would need to be brought in. Even though he was cushioned in the dugout, Sunrisers did not lose another wicket until the 18th over. Farooqi eventually took the place of Rahul Tripathi at the beginning of the chase.

Mishra was replaced by Ayush Badoni by the Super Giants in a more straightforward move after the 19th over of the first innings.

Krunal Pandya’s three-for dents Sunrisers

It became abundantly clear that this pitch was made specifically for spinners shortly after the second seam over. In the third over, Rahul brought on Krunal, and the left-arm spinner had Mayank Agarwal chip one to extra-cover. Anmolpreet Singh and Rahul Tripathi carved out an opportunity to become acclimated to the gradualness of the surface, and afterward hit four fours off every eight balls to take the side to 43 for 1 toward the finish of the powerplay.

However, Krunal dragged them back by throwing out Markram and Anmolpreet at the same time. Anmolpreet was held in place lbw by a faster one, and Markram defeated him in turn. Markram attempted to drive a full ball in his first game of the season, but he was beaten and had his off stump uprooted.

In the following over, the 10th of the innings, Bishnoi set Creek up pleasantly. In the wake of bowling two googlies, he expected Stream’s development down the track and sneaked in a wide leg break. Brook did exactly what the bowler expected, but he didn’t get close to the ball’s pitch and was stumped some distance away.

Sunrisers struggle to break away

The Sunrisers didn’t lose another wicket for the next seven overs thanks to Tripathi and Washington Sundar, but the scoreboard moved at a snail’s pace: from overs 7 to 16, there were only two boundaries. In the 18th over, Tripathi attempted to ram Yash Thakur, but Mishra was unable to clear him, so Mishra took the catch by diving full-length to his left at short third. In the following over, Mishra picked up two himself by tossing the ball to Washington and Rashid, who were caught on the ground. Sunrisers advanced by a run per ball with only Abdul Samad’s unbeaten 21 off 10, which included two sixes off Jaydev Unadkat in the 20th over.

Rahul, Krunal boss the chase

There was some debate about whether Quinton de Kock or Mayers would start the innings alongside Rahul because de Kock was available. However, de Kock was left out of the Super Giants’ batting lineup, surprising many. Even though Mayers was unable to replicate his heroics from the previous two matches, Rahul and Mayers gave the team a positive start.

In the fifth over, Farooqi had Mayers pull one straight to deep square leg, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar took a low, one-handed return catch to his left to send Hooda back from the other end. However, Super Giants benefited from knowing their target.

Krunal joined Rahul at the end of the powerplay, and the two of them picked up a boundary in each of the subsequent five overs without taking much risk. During the 55-run third-wicket stand in 6.2 overs, Krunal was the aggressor, scoring at a strike rate of 147.82. Before Krunal snatched Umran Malik behind, Super Giants reached 100 in the 13th over. After that, Rashid had Rahul and Romario Shepherd lbw off consecutive deliveries, but by that time, the outcome was over.

The mega Auction ahead of IPL 2022 saw many players go to new teams. There has been a lot of shuffling and some of the players have enjoyed wonderful outings against their former sides.

Kuldeep Yadav vs Kolkata Knight Riders

From 2017-2019, Kuldeep Yadav was a central member of the KKR side. He was deemed their future but a poor over against Moeen Ali began a downward spiral leading to him going on the bench. After spending considerable time on the bench, Kuldeep Yadav, one of India’s most talented bowlers went back to the auction, and found buyers in the Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2022 auction. His redemption story is one that will be savored for a while.

After falling out of the Knight Riders and Indian team, Kuldeep Yadav is in the middle of a wonderful season, winning four man-of-the-match awards. He has gone up against the Kolkata Knight Riders twice this season and both games saw him do wonders. He took two four-wicket hauls as KKR struggled to pick their old spinner, and made KKR regret their decision of releasing him with his performances in the two games.

David Warner vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

David Warner was unretained from the Sunrisers Hyderabad in tough circumstances. He had a tough season last year and found himself on the bench due to unfortunate reasons. After carrying the Sunrisers for a good five years, David Warner was finally left out and has come back to the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2022, the franchise he started with.

He is one of the best batters in the IPL, if not the best, and David Warner made immediate impact. After a good start, David Warner finally got a chance to take on his old franchise, Sunrisers, in IPL 2022. Facing his old side, David Warner showed the Sunrisers what he did for them over a long period of time. He was aggressive, ran hard and took the responsibility nicely as he made 92 runs, batting through the innings. He could have made a century, but decided to put his side first, giving Rovman Powell the confidence to go after the bowling rather than worrying about taking a single and giving Warner strike.

Khaleel Ahmed Vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

While David Warner made a statement against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Khaleel Ahmed decided to remind them about his efforts as well. Khaleel Ahmed was a part of the Sunrisers for a considerable time as well, and although he wasn’t a central figure, he still had his moments.

Facing his old side, Ahmed bowled with wonderful aggression touching the 145 KPH mark on a few occasions and took three wickets. He showed a wonderful heart, continuing to bowl despite taking a full-blooded Nicholas Pooran shot on the shoulder.

See Also: Injured Suryakumar Yadav likely to be out of action for four weeks – Cricket Winner

Rashid Khan Vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

Before David Warner and Khaleel Ahmed, Rashid Khan was the first to make a statement on his old franchise in IPL 2022. Rashid Khan started his career in SRH, and the side was central in making him the bowler he is today. He wasn’t able to stay in the side though due to disagreements in the retention contract, and found himself in the Gujarat Titans.

Facing his old side, Rashid Khan started bad, and was taken to the cleaners by Abhishek Sharma. He struggled with the ball and it looked like he was in the middle of a really bad day, until he came out to bat. With 47 needed off 12 against a strong bowling attack, Rashid Khan led the charge with a six of Bhuvneshwar Kumar He brought out his half-flick that gave him so many runs.

The game went into the final over with Gujarat needing 22 against Marco Jansen. With the heat of Rashid Khan, he went on to break the hearts of Hyderabad’s fans with three sixes in the last over to seal victory on the final ball in a thrilling encounter in IPL 2022.

Krunal Pandya Vs Mumbai Indians

With a lot of talent in the Mumbai Indians camp, the Mumbai Indians had a retention headache of ahead of IPL 2022. With only four options, they had to let go of Krunal Pandya, and struggled to buy him back in the auctions.

Krunal Pandya ended up in the Lucknow Supergiants for IPL 2022 and the season has been a good one for him. He is batting decently and has also bowled very economically through IPL 2022. Like many others, Krunal Pandya too had a moment against the Mumbai Indians. Defending a total in the 160s, Krunal Pandya maintained a tight line and length, took three wickets and sealed the game for LSG.

One of his wickets was that of Kieron Pollard. The wicket was a treasurable one, and led to him going and giving a happy hug to a frustrated Pollard, as Pandya one a battle against his old mate in the Mumbai Indians.