Rahul Chahar To Outfox MS Dhoni? 5 Player Battles To Watch Out In CSK vs SRH IPL Match

Rahul Chahar & MS Dhoni [Source: @srhfansofficial/x.com, @iplt20.com]

The heat is on in Chennai as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 43 of IPL 2025 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday, April 25. Both teams are in the dumps this season, sitting at the bottom of the table with just 2 wins and 6 losses from 8 games each but a win here could spark a turnaround or at least save face.

With pride, points and playoff hopes all on the line, expect some fierce face-offs on the field. Let’s take a look at five player battles that could make or break the CSK vs SRH IPL 2025 clash.

1. Abhishek Sharma vs Ravindra Jadeja

• Abhishek Sharma likes to take the aggressive route but when Jadeja’s in his groove, there is no room for freebies.
• Across five IPL innings against the left-arm spinner, Abhishek has managed 35 runs off 27 balls but has also lost his wicket once.
• The average of 35.00 and strike rate of 129.62 show that he’s tried to hang in there, but Jadeja’s knack for building pressure and sneaking one through could prove costly.
• If the Chennai pitch grips even a little, this battle could tilt in Jaddu’s favour real quick.

2. Nitish Kumar Reddy vs Ravindra Jadeja

• Nitish Kumar Reddy , who had a breakthrough season last year, is currently out of form and he will have his hands full against Jadeja.
• So far, he has only faced the CSK all-rounder in two innings, scoring 11 runs off 10 balls and getting dismissed once. That average of 11.00 and strike rate of 110.00 suggests he has struggled to rotate strike, let alone attack.
• Jadeja loves choking youngsters with dots and Chepauk’s turning track won’t help Nitish much either. This match-up could be over before it even starts if Nitish doesn’t find a way to break the shackles.

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3. MS Dhoni vs Rahul Chahar

• Yes, he’s still finishing games. Yes, the crowd still roars for him. But numbers don’t lie. MSD has been unusually subdued against Rahul Chahar.
• In six IPL innings, MS Dhoni has managed only 19 runs off 34 balls with two dismissals. That’s an average of 9.50 and a strike rate of just 55.88.
• Chahar’s pace through the air and length control clearly tie Dhoni down and if this clash goes deep, don’t be surprised if SRH brings Rahul Chahar as an Impact Player

4. MS Dhoni vs Harshal Patel

• Another matchup that hasn’t gone in Dhoni’s favour. In nine IPL innings, Dhoni has scored just 25 runs off 33 balls against Harshal Patel with three dismissals. That’s a disappointing average of 8.33 and a modest strike rate of 75.75.
• Harshal’s slower balls and off-cutters are well known but the fact that even someone as experienced as Dhoni hasn’t cracked the code says a lot.
• If Dhoni comes out swinging late in the innings, this could be the showdown that decides whether CSK finish with a bang or a whimper.

5. Ravindra Jadeja vs Harshal Patel

• Ravindra Jadeja has hammered 72 runs off just 35 balls against Harshal, with only one dismissal. That’s an average of 72.00 and a staggering strike rate of 205.71.
• If Jadeja walks in during the death overs and Harshal is still bowling, expect fireworks.
• he CSK all-rounder has shown time and again that he can be brutal against predictable pace variations. This could be the battle that tips the game CSK’s way if it goes the distance.

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